In this episode, Clint sits down with Thomas Erikson, behavioral expert and international bestselling author of “Surrounded by Idiots,” to explore what really drives human behavior and how better understanding it can make us stronger leaders, communicators, and teammates. Thomas shares his unconventional path to publishing success, the origins of his four-color personality model, and why so many of us feel misunderstood at work and at home. Plus, the two discuss why people clash, how we can connect across differences, and what it truly takes to change. This is the first part of a two-part conversation.

In this episode of The Conversation, Clint sits down with Todd Henry, best-selling author and self-proclaimed "arms dealer for creative leaders," to talk about the power of purposeful creativity. From leading high-performing teams to knowing when to prune old ideas, Todd shares practical wisdom on focus, energy, structure, and building a life that’s both original and impactful. Hear why creativity isn’t just for artists, it’s for anyone solving problems. Whether you’re a slow-twitch or fast-twitch creative, this one’s for you.

In this episode, Clint continues his conversation with Urs Koenig, leadership strategist and author of “Radical Humility,” to explore why the old top-down leadership model no longer works in today’s complex, fast-moving world. Urs also discusses transparency, vulnerability, and how ambitious leaders can stay humble without fading into the background. Plus, hear why Urs believes today’s leaders should act more like gardeners than chess masters—creating environments where teams thrive rather than micromanaging every move. This is the second part of a two-part conversation.

In this episode, Clinton Padgett sits down with Urs Koenig, leadership strategist, executive coach, keynote speaker, and author of “Radical Humility.” Drawing from a remarkable career that spans military peacekeeping, ultra-endurance sports, and high-stakes corporate leadership, Urs shares why humility is essential for today’s leaders. Urs also discusses the core pillars of radical humility, the lessons learned from public failure, and why the best leaders are tender on people but tough on results. Plus, hear why Urs says that “leadership is a thinking man’s sport.” This is the first part of a two-part conversation.

In this episode, Clint continues his conversation with Eric Stone, author of “Jumpstart Your Workplace Culture,” former Enterprise Holdings executive, and current founder & CEO of Clear Path Ventures. In part two of their chat, Eric shares practical insights on leading effective meetings, creating grassroots culture change, and the power of listening, mentoring, and simplicity in leadership. Plus, Eric explains why the best leaders know when to subtract instead of add. This is the second part of a two-part discussion.

In this episode, Clint has a conversation with Eric Stone, former Enterprise Holdings executive, founder & CEO of Clear Path Ventures, and author of the award-winning book, “Jumpstart Your Workplace Culture.” During their discussion, Eric defines what workplace culture really means, how to create a sense of accountability without fear, and why attitude, effort, and coachability are the core traits of high-performing teams. Plus, Eric explains his signature “hourglass” model for leading culture change. This is the first part of a two-part conversation.

In this episode, Clint continues his conversation with David Burkus, organizational psychologist, top-ranked business thought leader, and bestselling author of four books, including “Best Team Ever!” During their chat, David talks about the importance of defining a singular clarifying question to guide team priorities, how empathy can teach you what to expect in someone else’s behavior, and why leaders need to match trust with respect — “you don’t build psychological safety by getting people to trust you; you get people to trust you by showing you respect their contribution.” This is the second part of a two-part discussion.

In this episode, Clint has a conversation with David Burkus, organizational psychologist, top-ranked business thought leader, and bestselling author of four books, including “Best Team Ever!” During their discussion, David discusses what it takes to build high-performance teams, gives insights on creating psychological safety, and shares the importance of connecting a team’s work to a larger purpose — not just focusing on why they do what they do, but also who their efforts benefit. David also introduces his “Manual of Me” questions — a tool to help team members better understand themselves and each other to improve alignment and execution. This is the first part of a two-part discussion.

In this episode, Clint looks back on the best moments from the podcast in 2024, including Emmanuel Caprais on how to improve your people management skills, Sivaram Trikutam on how to tackle complex problems, Dr. Ray Gallant on advice for navigating the unknown, Teresa Lynch on fostering positive and productive team culture, John Miles on the importance of cultivating self-leadership, Karyn Buxman on the challenges and benefits of incorporating humor in leadership, and Craig Weber on improving conversational capacity amongst your teams.

In this episode, Clint continues his conversation with Craig Weber, founder of Craig Weber Consulting Group and author of “Conversational Capacity: The Secret to Building Successful Teams That Perform When the Pressure is On.” During their chat, Craig talks about the detriments of using your authority as a sledgehammer, the benefits of having someone on your team who isn’t fully on-board with your plan, and the importance of building your discipline: physical, intellectual, and emotional. Plus, Craig discusses why political discourse is primed to go sideways and gives advice on how to overcome our instinct for avoidance or defensiveness in political conversations. This is the second part of a two-part conversation.