5 Leadership Takeaways from Preston Zeller: Empathy, Trust, Storytelling, and Sustainable Growth

Host Mark Cundiff welcomes listeners to Learning to Lead episode 57, reflecting on his prior conversation with Preston Zeller from episode 56, “The Art of Empathy in Leadership.” He highlights themes of empathy, resilience, grief, storytelling, trust, leadership, and business growth, including Preston’s journey after losing his brother and creating a daily painting for 365 days that became the documentary The Art of Grieving. 

Cundiff emphasizes that people need leaders who listen and care, then shares five takeaways: empathy as a leadership superpower; small daily actions compounding into big results; using stories to inspire beyond facts; building trust through alignment between intentions and the employee experience; and recognizing that many growth problems are operational issues. He encourages listeners to watch the documentary, download leader notes, subscribe, and leave a rating.

Free Learning To Lead Resources

• Free Book: The Trust Gap
• The Learning To Lead Newsletter
• LeaderNotes

🔎 About LeaderNotes

LeaderNotes is a quick-hit companion to each episode of The Learning to Lead Show. In just 5–10 minutes, Mark Cundiff recaps the top leadership insights, frameworks, and action steps from each interview, designed for busy, growth-minded leaders who want to review and apply the episode’s biggest takeaways on the go. It’s like the highlight reel + playbook—all in one.

Contact Mark at: [email protected]

Grief, Growth, Storytelling, Operations, and the Future of AI

What happens when personal tragedy forces you to slow down, reflect, and rebuild?

In this episode of The Learning to Lead Show, Mark Cundiff sits down with entrepreneur, consultant, filmmaker, and storyteller Preston Zeller to explore how one of the most painful seasons of his life transformed the way he leads, serves others, and helps organizations grow.

After the loss of his brother, Preston embarked on an extraordinary journey—creating a painting every day for 365 days as a way to process grief. That experience eventually became the documentary The Art of Grieving and fundamentally changed his perspective on empathy, leadership, and human connection.

The conversation also explores storytelling as a leadership skill, building trust inside organizations, operational excellence, AI adoption, and the habits that fuel long-term growth.

Whether you're leading a team, growing a business, or navigating a difficult season of life, this episode offers practical wisdom and powerful reminders about what matters most.

Listen now and discover how great leaders combine empathy, vision, trust, and execution to create lasting impact.

Free Learning To Lead Resources

• Free Book: The Trust Gap
• The Learning To Lead Newsletter
• LeaderNotes

🔎 About LeaderNotes

LeaderNotes is a quick-hit companion to each episode of The Learning to Lead Show. In just 5–10 minutes, Mark Cundiff recaps the top leadership insights, frameworks, and action steps from each interview, designed for busy, growth-minded leaders who want to review and apply the episode’s biggest takeaways on the go. It’s like the highlight reel + playbook—all in one.

Contact Mark at: [email protected]

What separates good leaders from truly great leaders?

According to M.K. Palmore, it's not strategy, authority, or expertise.

It's people.

In this episode of The Learning to Lead Show, Mark Cundiff shares key leadership insights gained from his conversation with M.K. Palmore, Founder and CEO of Apogee Global RMS, former FBI executive, U.S. Marine Corps officer, U.S. Naval Academy graduate, and cybersecurity leader with Google Cloud and Palo Alto Networks.

Drawing from more than three decades of leadership experience across the military, federal law enforcement, and corporate America, M.K. shares powerful lessons on trust, integrity, accountability, resilience, mentorship, and why leadership is ultimately about investing in people.

M.K. explains why risk is fundamentally a leadership challenge, how great leaders build cultures of trust, and why the small moments of encouragement and mentorship often have the greatest impact.

Whether you're leading a team of two or an organization of thousands, this conversation will challenge you to think differently about leadership and the lasting legacy you leave behind.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

•  Why do the best leaders focus on people before mission 
•  The leadership lessons M.K. learned at the U.S. Naval Academy, the Marine Corps, the FBI, and Silicon Valley 
•  How mentors helped him beat the odds and build an extraordinary career 
•  Why trust is built through integrity, transparency, and accountability 
•  The hidden ways leaders unintentionally damage trust 
•  How to rebuild trust after it's been broken 
•  Why high-performing teams practice before pressure arrives 
•  The role of reflection and self-awareness in leadership growth 
•  How leaders can create cultures of psychological safety 
•  Why every leader has a responsibility to develop future leaders 

Free Learning To Lead Resources

• Free Book: The Trust Gap
• The Learning To Lead Newsletter
• LeaderNotes

🔎 About LeaderNotes

LeaderNotes is a quick-hit companion to each episode of The Learning to Lead Show. In just 5–10 minutes, Mark Cundiff recaps the top leadership insights, frameworks, and action steps from each interview, designed for busy, growth-minded leaders who want to review and apply the episode’s biggest takeaways on the go. It’s like the highlight reel + playbook—all in one.

Contact Mark at: [email protected]

What separates good leaders from truly great leaders?

According to M.K. Palmore, it's not strategy, authority, or expertise.

It's people.

In this episode of The Learning to Lead Show, Mark Cundiff sits down with M.K. Palmore, Founder and CEO of Apogee Global RMS, former FBI executive, U.S. Marine Corps officer, U.S. Naval Academy graduate, and cybersecurity leader with Google Cloud and Palo Alto Networks.

Drawing from more than three decades of leadership experience across the military, federal law enforcement, and corporate America, M.K. shares powerful lessons on trust, integrity, accountability, resilience, mentorship, and why leadership is ultimately about investing in people.

M.K. explains why risk is fundamentally a leadership challenge, how great leaders build cultures of trust, and why the small moments of encouragement and mentorship often have the greatest impact.

Whether you're leading a team of two or an organization of thousands, this conversation will challenge you to think differently about leadership and the lasting legacy you leave behind.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

•  Why do the best leaders focus on people before mission 
•  The leadership lessons M.K. learned at the U.S. Naval Academy, the Marine Corps, the FBI, and Silicon Valley 
•  How mentors helped him beat the odds and build an extraordinary career 
•  Why trust is built through integrity, transparency, and accountability 
•  The hidden ways leaders unintentionally damage trust 
•  How to rebuild trust after it's been broken 
•  Why high-performing teams practice before pressure arrives 
•  The role of reflection and self-awareness in leadership growth 
•  How leaders can create cultures of psychological safety 
•  Why every leader has a responsibility to develop future leaders

Connect with M.K. Palmore

•  Website
•  Apogee Global RMS
•  LinkedIn

Free Learning To Lead Resources

• Free Book: The Trust Gap
• The Learning To Lead Newsletter
• LeaderNotes

🔎 About LeaderNotes

LeaderNotes is a quick-hit companion to each episode of The Learning to Lead Show. In just 5–10 minutes, Mark Cundiff recaps the top leadership insights, frameworks, and action steps from each interview, designed for busy, growth-minded leaders who want to review and apply the episode’s biggest takeaways on the go. It’s like the highlight reel + playbook—all in one.

Contact Mark at: [email protected]

In episode 53 of Learning to Lead, host Mark Cundiff recaps his conversation with Patrick Erwin, author of I Love This Place, Director of Content and Training at the Maxwell Leadership Foundation, and a former Hillgrove High School band director who built a nationally respected program. 

🔑 5 Key Takeaways for Growth-Minded Leaders

1. Leadership Is More Than Skills

2. Your Response Shapes Your Culture

3. The Best Leaders Are Both Tough and Tender

4. Younger Generations Need Filters More Than Funnels

5. Culture Is Built Through Small Moments

Free Learning To Lead Resources

• Free Book: The Trust Gap
• The Learning To Lead Newsletter
• LeaderNotes

🔎 About LeaderNotes

LeaderNotes is a quick-hit companion to each episode of The Learning to Lead Show. In just 5–10 minutes, Mark Cundiff recaps the top leadership insights, frameworks, and action steps from each interview, designed for busy, growth-minded leaders who want to review and apply the episode’s biggest takeaways on the go. It’s like the highlight reel + playbook—all in one.

Contact Mark at: [email protected]

In this episode of The Learning to Lead Show, Mark J. Cundiff sits down with Patrick Erwin, author of I Love This Place, leadership educator, former high school band director, and Director of Content & Training at Maxwell Leadership.

Patrick shares the leadership lessons he learned while building a high-performing high school band program from the ground up and how those lessons apply to every organization—from schools and nonprofits to manufacturing plants and corporate teams.

This conversation dives deep into leadership culture, trust, influence, generational leadership, and the balance between driving results while genuinely caring for people. Patrick’s stories are authentic, practical, and filled with wisdom for any growth-minded leader who wants to create a workplace where people truly say, “I love this place.”

Key Topics Discussed

Patrick Erwin’s Leadership Journey

•  Starting a brand-new school and band program from scratch 
•  Leading over 300 students while building culture intentionally 
•  How early overconfidence became a catalyst for growth 
•  Lessons learned transitioning from education to Maxwell Leadership 

The Humbling Feedback That Changed Everything

•  The anonymous student review that challenged Patrick’s leadership 
•  Why technical skills alone are not enough 
•  Moving from proving yourself to genuinely leading others 

Why Leaders Miss Their Biggest Blind Spots

•  The danger of self-assurance without self-awareness 
•  How limited circles limit leadership growth 
•  “We lead as we were led,” and why mentorship matters 

The Conversation That Redirected His Leadership

Patrick’s wife delivered a powerful truth:

That moment launched a complete shift in how he viewed influence, relationships, and authentic leadership.

Leadership Books Recommended

• The 360 Degree Leader — John C. Maxwell 
• How to Get a Return on Failure — John C. Maxwell 
• The Future Begins with Z — Dr. Tim Elmore 
• Undistracted — Bob Goff
• I love this - Patrick Erwin

Connect with Patrick Erwin

• Website
• LinkedIn
• Book-I Love This Place

Free Learning To Lead Resources

• Free Book: The Trust Gap
• The Learning To Lead Newsletter
• LeaderNotes

🔎 About LeaderNotes

LeaderNotes is a quick-hit companion to each episode of The Learning to Lead Show. In just 5–10 minutes, Mark Cundiff recaps the top leadership insights, frameworks, and action steps from each interview, designed for busy, growth-minded leaders who want to review and apply the episode’s biggest takeaways on the go. It’s like the highlight reel + playbook—all in one.

Contact Mark at: [email protected]

Host Mark Cundiff welcomes listeners to episode 51 of Learning to Lead, sharing key leadership insights from his conversation with Jeff Brown of the Read to Lead podcast and co-author of the book Read to Lead. 

Mark highlights Jeff’s background as an early leadership podcaster with nearly 600 episodes, his career reinvention after losing a 26-year broadcasting job, and his story of going nearly 12 years without reading before it transformed his confidence, leadership, and life trajectory. 

The episode emphasizes that growth is intentional—requiring protected time, habits, focused learning, and consistent action—and that reading provides a competitive advantage by expanding thinking, accelerating careers, and improving leadership. Other takeaways include that implementation drives change, that great leaders demonstrate self-awareness and generosity, and that small daily habits like reading 10 pages a day compound over time.

Free Learning To Lead Resources

• Free Book: The Trust Gap
• The Learning To Lead Newsletter
• LeaderNotes

🔎 About LeaderNotes

LeaderNotes is a quick-hit companion to each episode of The Learning to Lead Show. In just 5–10 minutes, Mark Cundiff recaps the top leadership insights, frameworks, and action steps from each interview, designed for busy, growth-minded leaders who want to review and apply the episode’s biggest takeaways on the go. It’s like the highlight reel + playbook—all in one.

Contact Mark at: [email protected]

Episode #50: The Read to Lead Blueprint for Personal, Professional, and Leadership Growth with Jeff Brown

In this milestone 50th episode of The Learning to Lead Show, Mark Cundiff sits down with Jeff Brown, founder of the Read to Lead Podcast, to explore how reading, lifelong learning, intentional growth, and leadership development can transform your career and life.

Jeff shares his journey from traditional radio broadcasting to becoming one of the most respected voices in leadership podcasting, interviewing world-class authors like Seth Godin, John Maxwell, Simon Sinek, Liz Wiseman, and Dr. Henry Cloud.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• Why “leaders are readers.”
• How reading accelerated Jeff’s career growth
• The mindset shifts required for reinvention and personal growth
• Why intentional learning separates great leaders from average leaders
• The difference between intention and implementation
• How to build leadership habits that actually stick
• The power of note-making vs. note-taking
• How to create a personal growth system

Books & Authors Mentioned:

• Multipliers — Liz Wiseman
• Essentialism — Greg McKeown
• Purple Cow — Seth Godin
• The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership — John Maxwell
• 7 Habits of Highly Effective People — Stephen Covey
• How to Win Friends and Influence People — Dale Carnegie
• 48 Days to the Work You Love — Dan Miller
• Die Empty — Todd Henry
• Steal the Show — Michael Port

About Jeff Brown:

Jeff Brown is the creator and host of the award-nominated Read to Lead Podcast and co-author of Read to Lead. After a 26-year career in radio broadcasting, Jeff reinvented himself as a leadership podcaster and lifelong learning advocate.

Connect with Jeff Brown:

• ReadtoLeadPodcast.com
• Read to Lead Book

Free Learning To Lead Resources

• Free Book: The Trust Gap
• The Learning To Lead Newsletter
• LeaderNotes

🔎 About LeaderNotes

LeaderNotes is a quick-hit companion to each episode of The Learning to Lead Show. In just 5–10 minutes, Mark Cundiff recaps the top leadership insights, frameworks, and action steps from each interview, designed for busy, growth-minded leaders who want to review and apply the episode’s biggest takeaways on the go. It’s like the highlight reel + playbook—all in one.

Contact Mark at: [email protected]

Host Mark Cundiff opens Episode 49 of the Learning to Lead Show with an update on a brief publishing gap due to attending his son Elijah Cundiff’s wedding, previews Episode 50 featuring Jeff Brown of the Read to Lead Show, and thanks listeners for helping the podcast reach 53 countries and 326 cities. 

He reflects on his conversation with frontline leader Trent McJunkin, who rose from technician to senior leadership, sharing hard lessons about shifting from driving results and fixing problems to developing people. 

Cundiff highlights five takeaways: 

1. Leadership starts before a title
2. Being the hero creates dependency
3. A leader’s role is to develop others
4. Clarity reduces frustration by defining “good” and “done.”
5.  Communication multiplies influence because reception matters as much as intent. 

He directs listeners to download leader notes, subscribe, share, and rate the show.

Free Learning To Lead Resources

• Free Book: The Trust Gap
• The Learning To Lead Newsletter
• LeaderNotes

🔎 About LeaderNotes

LeaderNotes is a quick-hit companion to each episode of The Learning to Lead Show. In just 5–10 minutes, Mark Cundiff recaps the top leadership insights, frameworks, and action steps from each interview, designed for busy, growth-minded leaders who want to review and apply the episode’s biggest takeaways on the go. It’s like the highlight reel + playbook—all in one.

Contact Mark at: [email protected]

Trent McJunkin shares his journey from shop floor technician to leadership coach, revealing the mindset shifts, mistakes, and leadership principles that helped him grow—and now help others lead with consistency, discipline, and influence.

📌 Key Topics Covered

• Transitioning from technician to leader
• Leading without authority
• The mindset shift from doing the work → developing people
• Why “hero culture” hurts organizations
• Communication breakdowns and how to fix them
• Influencing across teams and up the organization
• Building trust and credibility as a leader
• The importance of personal growth in leadership

🧠 Key Takeaways

• Leadership starts before the title — you’re already influencing others
• Your role shifts as a leader — from getting results to developing people
• Poor communication creates chaos — clarity is everything
• What gets rewarded gets repeated — celebrate proactive behaviors
• Influence requires empathy — understand what matters to others
• Growth is non-negotiable — your leadership sets the ceiling for your team

⚠️ Common Leadership Pitfalls

• Leading with frustration instead of clarity
• Assuming people understand expectations
• Overvaluing “firefighting” vs. prevention
• Failing to adapt communication styles
• Relying on authority instead of influence

🛠️ Practical Leadership Applications

• Define “what good looks like” and “what done looks like.”
• Ask better questions before reacting
• Recognize and reward preventive actions
• Tailor communication to the individual
• Focus on solving problems that matter to others
• Invest in daily, consistent personal growth

📖 Influential Resource Mentioned

• The 360 Degree Leader – John C. Maxwell
• The John Maxwell Team

🔗 Connect with Trent McJunkin

• LinkedIn: Trent McJunkin
• Website
• Email: [email protected]

Free Learning To Lead Resources

• Free Book: The Trust Gap
• The Learning To Lead Newsletter
• LeaderNotes

🔎 About LeaderNotes

LeaderNotes is a quick-hit companion to each episode of The Learning to Lead Show. In just 5–10 minutes, Mark Cundiff recaps the top leadership insights, frameworks, and action steps from each interview, designed for busy, growth-minded leaders who want to review and apply the episode’s biggest takeaways on the go. It’s like the highlight reel + playbook—all in one.

Contact Mark at: [email protected]