This episode of The Indispensable Conversation features Michael Mazarr.     

If you’re unfamiliar with Mike, he is Senior Political Scientist at RAND  Corporation. A self-defined generalist, Mike has spent substantial time  on issues including arms control, U.S. defense policy (force posture,  doctrine, etc.), decision-making theory, Korean Peninsula security, and  most recently South Asia.     

It’s this distinctive background that makes him the perfect guest to  tackle this question with me:     

“Does a nation’s competitive success simply come down to military and  economic might?”     

The question is vitally important for top leaders to contemplate, right  now, as they continue to be challenged to place their bets today for  continued success in an uncertain tomorrow.     

Truly, you don't want to miss this episode.

Dorie Clark is my guest to kick-off Season III of The Indispensable Conversation.    

For those who mat not know Dorie, she is a Duke & Columbia Business Professor; WSJ Bestselling Author; Ranked #1 Communication Coach and a Top 50 Business Thinker in World as designated by Thinkers50.    

But, it is the fact that her latest book, “The Long Game” is so highly regarded within today's top leadership circles that makes Dorie the perfect guest to tackle this question with me:    

“Can We Be Long-Term Thinkers in a Short-Term World?”    

The question is so compelling because leaders must be able to answer this question for themselves in these unprecedented and challenging times.     

Indeed, you won't want to miss this episode so please be sure to follow the link and register.     

Marshall Goldsmith is my guest on the final episode of Season II of The Indispensable Conversation.   

If you're unfamiliar, Marshall is an elite executive coach and a New York Times Number 1 best selling author. His body of work has earned several highly acclaimed distinctions, including:  

But, it is the fact that his latest book, “The Earned Life” is so highly regarded within today's top leadership circles that makes Marshall the perfect guest to tackle this question with me:  

What is an earned life?  

It is a critically essential question for us all to answer for ourselves in these uncertain times. 

Additionally, it may very well lead to us taking on related questions, like:   

1. What is the source of today’s existential crisis? 

2. I always thought ‘empathy’ was a great thing. How can it cause more harm than good?  

3. What do you say is one of the most common challenges of the successful people you coach? 

4. What do you mean by ‘credibility has to be earned twice’? 

5. How can we balance our persistent need to win with the ‘stuff happens’ unfairness of life?  

You won't want to miss this episode! 

Listen to it now.

Can music really make us better leaders?  

As many of you know, I am a huge music fan with an immense private collection that spans most popular genres and styles. I listen to music all day long and have written all 6 of my books and 100s of articles with music in my ears.   

Indeed, I’m a believer that music makes me a more creative and stimulating thought leader than I would be otherwise. That said, I got to wondering recently:    Can music make us better leaders, too?  This is the question that I explore with musician, keynote speaker and author Freddie Ravel, on this week's episode of The Indispensable Conversation.   

It is Freddie's experiences rocking with the likes of Carlos Santana, Earth, Wind & Fire and Madonna coupled with his signature “Keynote Speech Concerts" – that he has delivered to such industry-leading firms as IBM, Google and Amazon (to name just a few) in over 80 countries – which makes him the perfect person to get after this question with me.  

Take a listen!

Is social polarization or apathy better for business?

In an age of shameless self-promotion, does experience matter anymore?   

This is the question that I explore with start-up adviser, consultant,  speaker and investor Hamish Thomson on this week's episode of The  Indispensable Conversation.     

Indeed, it is Hamish's vast and varied experiences (he is the former  Regional President/CEO and Global brand head for Mars Inc (UK,  Australia, Chicago) and a one-time senior marketing leader at Reebok  International (England & the Netherlands)) that makes him the right  guy to tackle this topic with me:    

In an age of shameless self-promotion, does experience matter anymore?

Is altruism just a sophisticated form of selfishness?  

Selfishness is often regarded as an undesirable or even immoral characteristic, whereas altruism is typically considered universally desirable and virtuous. But, are these constructs accurate? Is selfishness always bad? Is altruism always good? 

These are important questions for today's business leaders as they struggle to find the "right" balance between doing right by their stakeholders and the greater society.  

Who better to explore this paradox with me than "the Ikigai guy" himself, David E. Marlow?  After a 30-year career as a senior leader and executive in Fortune 500 companies, David has come to help people "live into" their purpose and to help companies bring their purpose to their products and their people through his coaching, consulting, and mentoring.

Can those who volunteer ever give too much?

Please be sure to listen-in!

If you win, do I have to lose?    

It seems far too many leaders believe that for them to "win," someone  must "lose." They've bought into the notion that there's simply just not  enough to go around. But, I wonder if that's really true.    

Who better to explore this question with me on this edition of The  Indispensable Conversation than Simon Haigh?    

Simon is a Life Coach, Consultant, Speaker, Business Advisor and Lawyer.  He helps leaders avoid roadblocks, pitfalls and mistakes to unlock  their potential and create transformational change. 

Certainly, Simon is  the "right" guy to tackle this question with me!

Is Kindness A Sign of Weakness?