In this episode of the Learning to Lead Show, host Mark Cundiff interviews Grandmaster Rick Rando, 8th Degree Black Belt, owner and president of Kick Masters Karate and host of the Victory Couch Podcast. 

Rick shares insights from his extensive career in martial arts and business leadership. He discusses the importance of maintaining high standards, recognizing and addressing toxic influences, and the significance of servant leadership. 

Rick also recounts his journey from starting martial arts to owning a thriving business, highlighting key lessons learned along the way, especially during challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The episode emphasizes the value of humility, continuous improvement, and building trust within teams. Rick's personal experiences and practical advice offer valuable takeaways for leaders in any industry.

00:00 Overcoming Toxic Relationships in Leadership

00:53 Introduction to the Learning to Lead Show

02:13 Rick Rando's Martial Arts Journey Begins

04:46 Early Leadership Lessons and Family Influence

06:04 Building a Successful Martial Arts Business

12:06 Servant Leadership and Team Culture

19:36 Balancing Humility and Confidence

23:11 Challenges and Growth in Business

27:12 Adapting to COVID-19: Safety Measures and Challenges

28:10 The Importance of Systems in Business

29:15 Continuous Improvement and Efficiency

31:45 Self-Leadership and Personal Growth

35:41 Building and Trusting Your Team

44:00 Lessons from Disney: Leadership and Service

47:02 Personal Development and Influences

49:46 The Role of Family in Leadership

52:00 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Connect with Grandmaster Rick Rando:

• Email: [email protected] 
• LinkedIn
• randospeaks.com
• The Victory Couch Podcast (with Julie Rando)

Rick's Recommended Reading List:

• The Go-Giver — Bob Burg
• The Customer Rules — Lee Cockerell
• Rich Dad, Poor Dad -  Robert Kiyosaki
• The Tipping Point - Malcom Gladwell
• Uncommon - Tony Dungy

Rick's Recommended Podcast:

• EntreLeadership - Dave Ramsey
• That Sounds Fun - Annie F. Downs

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 first episode of the New Year 2026, host Mark Cundiff revisits a powerful conversation from a previous episode with Marianne Renner, author of 'Self-Talk: 10 Stories You Tell Yourself That Hold You Back'. 

Mark outlines five key takeaways for growth-minded leaders. These include the significance of self-talk, the impact of self-doubt on workplace culture, strategies to challenge negative stories, the importance of differentiating facts from personal narratives, and Marianne’s SEAR framework for rewriting mental scripts. 

Listeners are encouraged to read Renner's book for deeper insights and to access LeaderNotes available in the show notes to enhance their leadership journey.

00:00 Introduction to the Learning to Lead Show

00:10 Recap of Marianne Renner's Insights

00:37 Key Takeaways for Growth-Minded Leaders

01:21 Understanding Self-Doubt and Its Impact

02:26 Challenging the Invisible Bubble

03:18 Confusing Facts with Stories

04:12 The SEAR Framework for Rewriting Mental Scripts

05:08 Conclusion and Next Steps

Connect with Marianne Renner:

Email: [email protected] 

LinkedIn

mariannerenner.com

Marianne’s Books

• Self-Talk
• From Chaos to Clarity Success Journal
• Stop Thinking Like an Employee

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, host Mark Cundiff interviews leadership coach, trainer, and speaker Marianne Renner about her latest book, 'Self-Talk.' 

Marianne shares her personal journey of overcoming decades of depression and addiction by mastering her mindset and transforming her self-talk. She discusses the profound impact self-talk has on leadership and personal growth, revealing tools and strategies to change negative self-talk patterns. 

Through compelling stories and practical advice, Marianne emphasizes the importance of taking ownership of one's actions, thoughts, and feelings. Additionally, she highlights the crucial role of mentors and divine connections in shaping one's journey. 

Marianne also touches on the significance of gratitude, affirmations, and acceptance in fostering a positive mindset. The episode provides valuable lessons for leaders on removing self-imposed barriers and unleashing their full potential.

00:00 The Power of Self-Talk

00:57 Introduction to Marianne Renner

02:15 Marianne's Personal Journey

04:54 The Impact of Self-Talk on Leadership

08:37 Understanding the Invisible Bubble

13:11 The SEAR Framework for Changing Your Story

17:43 Real-Life Success Stories

24:49 The Clock is Ticking: A Story of Perseverance

25:18 A Life-Changing Phone Call

26:34 Behind the Scenes: Coaching and Mindset

28:31 Changing Your Stories: Past, Present, and Future

32:54 The Turning Point: Acceptance and Empowerment

36:04 Owning Your Role: From Victim to Victor

40:13 The Importance of a Support System

43:41 Books and Mentors: Continuous Growth

45:31 Connecting with Marianne: Coaching and Resources

Connect with Marianne Renner:

Email: [email protected] 

LinkedIn

mariannerenner.com

Marianne’s Books

• Self-Talk
• From Chaos to Clarity Success Journal
• Stop Thinking Like an Employee

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, host Mark Cundiff reflects on Ali Merchant's book 'The All-In Manager', and shares key insights from their previous discussion. 

He highlights five major takeaways for leaders: 

1. The common phenomenon of accidental managers
2. The importance of trust is built on care, reliability, and competence. 
3. The role of psychological safety and candor in fostering innovation.
4. The necessity for leaders to actively seek feedback and address blind spots.
5. The shift from being a problem-fixer to a question-asker and debate-maker.

Cundiff emphasizes that true leadership is about continual learning, meaningful results, and genuinely caring for team members. Listeners are encouraged to go back to the previous episode, download the leader notes, and subscribe to the podcast.

00:00 Introduction to the Learning to Lead Show

00:42 Key Takeaway 1: From Accidental Leader to All-In Manager

02:20 Key Takeaway 2: Building Trust as a Leader

03:35 Key Takeaway 3: Psychological Safety and Candor

05:00 Key Takeaway 4: Seeking Feedback and Busting Blind Spots

06:24 Key Takeaway 5: Stop Being the Fixer

07:57 Conclusion and Call to Action

Connect with Ali Merchant:

• [email protected]
• LinkedIn
• allinmanager.com
• 📚 Ali's Book Recommendations
  • The All-In Manager: Become a Better Leader Today, Not Someday – Ali Merchant: Ali’s full framework on moving from accidental to all-in, with tools, templates, and practical scripts.
  • Multipliers – Liz Wiseman
  • No Rules Rules – Reed Hastings & Erin Meyer
  • Zen and the Art of Firefighting - Chris Prentiss

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, Ali discusses the pivotal role of trust in leadership, emphasizing that without trust, nothing else matters. He shares his personal journey from growing up in a bookstore in Karachi, Pakistan, to becoming a leader and now an author of 'The All In Manager.' 

Ali explains the concept of an accidental manager and the importance of transitioning to an all-in manager, characterized by insatiable learning, delivering meaningful results, and caring personally for team members. He highlights the significance of psychological safety in fostering innovation and effective communication within organizations. 

Ali offers practical advice on becoming a better leader, including the importance of learning and listening, asking the right questions, and conducting difficult conversations. He also discusses burnout and managing up as common issues leaders face today. 

The episode wraps up with Ali sharing his methodologies for training and coaching leaders and recommending essential books that have shaped his leadership philosophy.

00:00 Building Trust: The Foundation of Leadership

00:58 Ali's Leadership Journey: From Bookstore to Boardroom

02:45 Navigating the Workforce: Applying Self-Development

05:35 The Accidental Leader: Rising to the Challenge

11:04 Psychological Safety: Creating a Safe Culture

20:58 The Power of Candor: Speaking Truth with Kindness

24:02 Establishing Rules for Candor

24:43 Rewarding Candor in Leadership

25:40 Learning from Mistakes

26:24 Challenges Leaders Face with Candor

27:31 The Importance of Feedback

31:25 Practical Steps for Leaders

33:05 Coaching and Training Leaders

36:04 Common Issues Leaders Face

41:38 Advice for New Leaders

43:53 Recommended Books for Leaders

45:30 Where to Find More Resources

Connect with Ali Merchant:

• [email protected]
• LinkedIn
• allinmanager.com
• 📚 Ali's Book Recommendations
  • The All-In Manager: Become a Better Leader Today, Not Someday – Ali Merchant: Ali’s full framework on moving from accidental to all-in, with tools, templates, and practical scripts.
  • Multipliers – Liz Wiseman
  • No Rules Rules – Reed Hastings & Erin Meyer
  • Zen and the Art of Firefighting - Chris Prentiss

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, host Mark Cundiff reflects on his conversation with David Pennington. The discussion centers on key leadership lessons and insights from David, focusing on the importance of aligning work with passion, aiming for an 80% sweet spot in job roles, maintaining clarity and structure within organizations, adapting leadership styles to meet individual team members' needs, and ensuring a business's value isn't solely dependent on its owner. Mark summarizes these five takeaways and encourages leaders to apply them to enhance their effectiveness.

00:00 Introduction to the Learning to Lead Show

00:21 Guest Introduction: David Pennington's Diverse Leadership Experience

01:16 Key Takeaway 1: Understanding the Source of Discouragement

03:20 Key Takeaway 2: Aim for the 80% Sweet Spot

04:24 Key Takeaway 3: Clarity Beats Chaos

05:57 Key Takeaway 4: Adapting Leadership Styles

07:07 Key Takeaway 5: Building a Business Independent of the Owner

08:11 Conclusion and Call to Action

Connect with Dave Pennington:

• [email protected]
• LinkedIn
• penncoaching.com
• Dave's Free Resources

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 insightful conversation, host Mark sits down with Dave to discuss his extensive leadership journey spanning pastoral ministry, private education, and business coaching. 

Dave elaborates on the challenges and strategies involved in leading volunteers in nonprofit settings, emphasizing the importance of vision, communication, and relationship building. 

He also shares his experiences transforming small businesses by aligning roles with individual strengths and discusses the value of clear expectations, timely feedback, and structured accountability in effective leadership. 

The discussion extends to the intricacies of succession planning and the role of coaching in providing much-needed external perspectives for business and nonprofit leaders.

Dave provides real-life examples of how restructuring roles and developing complementary dream teams can significantly enhance organizational success. The conversation wraps up with a focus on continuous learning and the significance of personal and professional growth for leaders.

00:00 Introduction and Welcoming Dave

00:13 Dave's Leadership Journey

01:47 Challenges of Leading Volunteers

03:47 Effective Communication Strategies

07:08 Transition to School Leadership

08:40 Leadership Styles and Influence

11:49 Developing Future Leaders

13:44 Addressing Leadership Discouragement

15:04 Aligning Roles with Strengths

18:38 The Value of Coaching

22:01 Delegation and Leadership Growth

23:12 Valuation and Selling Your Business

24:05 Coaching Leaders for Business Value

26:16 Succession Planning and Leadership Development

29:29 Characteristics of Great Leaders

31:30 Developing and Retaining Talent

34:16 Personal Development and Learning

40:41 Connecting with Dave and His Services

Connect with Dave Pennington:

• [email protected]
• LinkedIn
• penncoaching.com
• Dave's Free Resources

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, host Mark Cundiff reflects on his conversation with Jim Little, a Navy veteran and reliability engineer, about important leadership lessons. 

Key takeaways include the importance of building trust through listening and providing feedback, the role of clear communication in driving organizational change, the balance between friendliness and leadership to avoid favoritism, and the significance of servant leadership. 

Jim emphasizes creating a fun, engaging work environment to boost team satisfaction. Listeners are encouraged to download leader notes for more insights and revisit the full conversation with Jim Little from previous episodes.

00:00 Introduction to the Learning the Lead Show
00:04 Insights from a Navy Veteran: Jim Little
00:33 The Importance of Trust and Feedback in Leadership
01:48 Communication: The Engine of Change
03:03 Balancing Friendship and Leadership
03:53 Embracing Servant Leadership
04:34 Injecting Fun into the Workplace
05:20 Conclusion and Key Takeaways

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]

"Communication and Leadership: Insights from a Navy Veteran" My Conversation with Jim Little

In this episode of the Learning to Lead Show, host Mark Cundiff sits down with Jim Little, a Navy veteran and senior reliability engineer with PIP company. 

Jim shares invaluable leadership insights drawn from his extensive career across various roles in maintenance, reliability, and safety management in industrial manufacturing. 

From his early days in the Navy to leading teams and driving change in resistant environments, Jim emphasizes the importance of communication, leading by example, and building trust. 

He discusses transitioning from military to civilian roles, the challenges of driving change in the current work climate, and provides practical advice for aspiring leaders, stressing the significance of listening, patience, and making work enjoyable. 

Listeners are encouraged to download the LeaderNotes for a summary of key takeaways and to subscribe to more episodes.

00:00 Introduction and Employee Feedback

00:28 Welcome to the Learning to Lead Show

00:40 Meet Jim Little: Navy Veteran and Leadership Expert

02:33 Jim's Leadership Journey from Navy to Industry

03:38 Transitioning to Civilian Life and Maintenance Role

07:26 Leadership Lessons from the Paper Mill Turnaround

10:26 Challenges and Strategies in Leadership

14:56 Building Trust and Effective Communication

16:50 Driving Change in Industrial Manufacturing

18:39 Key Traits of a Great Leader

20:07 Leading Up and Managing Peers

25:43 Personal Growth and Overcoming Challenges

31:29 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

34:06 Conclusion and Call to Action

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, host Mark Cundiff recaps his conversation with Jeff Davis, the founder and executive director of Truth in Nature, an organization dedicated to mentoring fatherless boys across the U.S. 

Mark shares insights from Jeff's journey, highlighting key leadership lessons such as:

•  The power of influence
• The importance of storytelling
• The courage to follow a calling
• The necessity of gratitude towards volunteers 
• The need to stay focused on the mission. 

This episode underscores the significant impact and growth Truth in Nature has achieved under Jeff's dedication and visionary leadership.

00:00 Introduction and Episode Recap
00:21 Jeff Davis and Truth in Nature
02:00 Leadership Lessons from Jeff Davis
02:37 The Power of Storytelling
06:01 Gratitude and Volunteer Appreciation
07:20 Staying Focused on the Mission
09:22 Conclusion and Call to Action

To learn more about Jeff Davis and Truth In Nature, visit their website here: Truth In Nature.

You can also reach out to Jeff via email here: [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]