The New Rules Podcast

In this powerful episode of The New Rules Podcast, recorded live at the Black Leadership Summit, Adrian and Bri are joined by two respected voices in leadership, Tyler Burns and Du'Bois A'Keen, for an unfiltered, behind-the-scenes conversation.

They don't offer platitudes or recycled leadership clichés. Instead, they get honest about the weight of responsibility, the danger of being platformed too early, and the tension between authenticity and expectation.

Together, they reflect on their personal leadership journeys, the pressure of leading while being watched, and the internal work it takes to lead with integrity, not image.

If you've ever wondered whether you're doing leadership "right" or felt like the weight of it was too much, this conversation is for you. Check out Du'Bois Here: https://www.duboisakeen.com/ Check out Tyler Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pass-the-mic/id1435500798

📲 Connect with Us:

Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review! Share your thoughts on how power and fear have played a role in your own leadership experiences.

We'd love to hear your thoughts! After listening, don't forget to leave a comment on YouTube, leave a review, and share your favorite takeaways on social media.

More of a visual person?

You can WATCH today's episode on our Youtube Channel:

Youtube: youtube.com/WriteNewRules

To stay connected, visit us at the following places to help as a guide for you on your journey to becoming an authentic leader!

LinkedIn: Adrian Crawford

Instagram: @writenewrules

TikTok: @writenewrules

In a world where creativity is reserved for artists and leadership is reserved for extroverts, this episode challenges both assumptions.

Adrian and Bri pull back the curtain on a deeper, more integrated view of creativity, one rooted not in flair, but in function. From basketball courts to boardrooms, from faith to finance, they explore how real creativity emerges, sometimes out of desperation. It's about solving problems, building what's missing, and refusing to wait for permission.

Together, they tackle why most people underestimate their creative potential, how fear and anxiety suppress imagination, and why black-and-white thinking keeps us from designing real solutions. They also reflect on how leadership without creativity is obsolete and why the future belongs to those who can build what hasn't existed yet.

Whether you're leading a team, building a business, or just trying to believe in yourself again, this conversation will ignite your sense of ownership and remind you: you're more creative than you think.

🎧 Subscribe for new episodes every week. 💬 Drop a comment below, what's a problem in your life you're ready to solve creatively?

📲 Connect with Us:

Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review! Share your thoughts on how power and fear have played a role in your own leadership experiences.

More of a visual person?

You can WATCH today's episode on our Youtube Channel:

Youtube: youtube.com/WriteNewRules

To stay connected, visit us at the following places to help as a guide for you on your journey to becoming an authentic leader!

LinkedIn: Adrian Crawford

Instagram: @writenewrules

TikTok: @writenewrules

We're confronting the reality of modern leadership in a politically divided, hyper-visible world.

From the ICE raids in California to increasing polarization, the episode explores what it means to lead when every move is public, every opinion is politicized, and trust in leadership is eroding. We discuss "Terrarium Leadership," a new era where leaders are fully visible, constantly observed, and expected to act with both authenticity and transparency.

They unpack:

• Why real leadership is more scarce than ever.

• What happens when influence outpaces character.

• The tension of leading when everyone is watching.

• The power (and cost) of quiet leadership in loud times.

If you've ever wrestled with the weight of responsibility or wondered how to lead when everything feels politicized — this episode is for you.

More of a visual person?

You can WATCH today's episode on our Youtube Channel:

Youtube: youtube.com/WriteNewRules

📲 Connect with Us:

We'd love to hear your thoughts! After listening, don't forget to leave a comment on YouTube, leave a review, and share your favorite takeaways on social media.

To stay connected, visit us at the following places to help as a guide for you on your journey to becoming an authentic leader!

LinkedIn: Adrian Crawford

Instagram: @writenewrules

TikTok: @writenewrules

In a culture that equates influence with volume and leadership with visibility, this episode flips the script.

Adrian Crawford unpacks a different kind of leadership—one that isn't loud, flashy, or ego-driven. It's the leadership of presence, conviction, and consistency. The kind of leadership that doesn't need to shout to be heard — because it holds the standard in silence.

This conversation explores the cost of real leadership — not the external pressure, but the internal tension of leading with integrity when it would be easier to bend. It's about the leaders who don't need the spotlight because they're committed to shaping things that last — from culture to character.

If you've ever felt like your quiet leadership doesn't count… or wondered whether your steady influence still has a place in this fast, loud world — this one's for you.

Real leadership isn't always seen. But it's always felt. 📍 Subscribe & follow for new episodes every week 💬 Drop your thoughts below — what's your take on quiet leadership?

More of a visual person?

You can WATCH today's episode on our Youtube Channel:

Youtube: youtube.com/WriteNewRules

📲 Connect with Us:

We'd love to hear your thoughts! After listening, don't forget to leave a comment on YouTube, leave a review, and share your favorite takeaways on social media.

To stay connected, visit us at the following places to help as a guide for you on your journey to becoming an authentic leader!

LinkedIn: Adrian Crawford

Instagram: @writenewrules

TikTok: @writenewrules

What happens when artificial intelligence changes the rules—and you don't?

In this episode, we explore how AI is redefining work, leadership, and purpose. It's not just about learning the tools. It's about the mindset shift from fear to faith, from scarcity to abundance. From chasing a job to owning a calling.

If you know your purpose, you can bring it to any platform. Any job. Any era.

Whether you're a leader, creator, business owner, or builder — this conversation will challenge you to think bigger and move forward boldly.

More of a visual person?

You can WATCH today's episode on our Youtube Channel:

Youtube: youtube.com/WriteNewRules

Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review! Share your thoughts on how power and fear have played a role in your own leadership experiences.

We'd love to hear your thoughts! After listening, don't forget to leave a comment on YouTube, leave a review, and share your favorite takeaways on social media.

📲 Connect with Us:

LinkedIn: Adrian Crawford

Instagram: @writenewrules

TikTok: @writenewrules

Today we're joined by our first-ever guest, the legendary Marty Linsky, co-author of Leadership on the Line, one of the most important leadership books we've ever read.

In this candid conversation, Marty joins Adrian and Bri to unpack the raw, costly, and often misunderstood reality of leading in today's world. Drawing from decades of experience in politics, academia, and coaching, he shares insights into:

• Why authority ≠ leadership

• How to lead without being liked

• Why real leadership always comes with pushback

• What Gen Z needs to know before they step up

• The #1 reason leaders fail: doing it alone

This is not a feel-good episode. It's a necessary one.

📚 Get the book: Leadership on the Line 🎧 Tune in and take notes — this conversation will shift the way you lead.

📲 Connect with Us:

We'd love to hear your thoughts! After listening, don't forget to leave a comment on YouTube, leave a review, and share your favorite takeaways on social media.

More of a visual person?

You can WATCH today's episode on our Youtube Channel:

Youtube: youtube.com/WriteNewRules

To stay connected, visit us at the following places to help as a guide for you on your journey to becoming an authentic leader!

LinkedIn: Adrian Crawford

Instagram: @writenewrules

TikTok: @writenewrules

In a world obsessed with instant success and digital applause, Episode 84 of The New Rules Podcast goes deeper.

Adrian Crawford and Brianna Clark return to explore what it means to lead in obscurity, why today's noisy platforms aren't built for real leadership, and how substance is formed not in spotlight, but in silence.

This episode unpacks:

• The quiet power of Jerry Lorenzo & Fear of God

• Why the future belongs to leaders with scars, not just followers

• How Gen Z is positioned to lead with wisdom, not virality

• Why adversity isn't optional—it's essential

If you're trying to lead when no one's clapping, this episode will remind you why it's worth it.

More of a visual person?

You can WATCH today's episode on our Youtube Channel:

Youtube: youtube.com/WriteNewRules

📲 Connect with Us:

We'd love to hear your thoughts! After listening, don't forget to leave a comment on YouTube, leave a review, and share your favorite takeaways on social media.

To stay connected, visit us at the following places to help as a guide for you on your journey to becoming an authentic leader!

LinkedIn: Adrian Crawford

Instagram: @writenewrules

TikTok: @writenewrules

In an age obsessed with visibility, applause, and platform, this episode of The New Rules Podcast confronts a hard but necessary truth: real leadership is not built on reputation — it's forged through weight, substance, and unseen seasons.

Adrian Crawford and Brianna Clark unpack why chasing approval leads to fragile influence, why the next generation of leaders won't have the luxury of skipping hard formation, and what it actually takes to build something that endures when the applause fades.

This conversation isn't about branding yourself better. It's about becoming someone worthy of lasting impact. Most leaders chase reputation. Few build substance.

If you're tired of shallow leadership advice and ready to build something that carries real weight, this episode is for you.

📲 Connect with Us:

More of a visual person?

You can WATCH today's episode on our Youtube Channel:

Youtube: youtube.com/WriteNewRules

Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review! Share your thoughts on how power and fear have played a role in your own leadership experiences.

Whether you are a corporate leader, parent, or any individual who finds themselves in a position of leadership - we hope this podcast brings you one step closer on the journey to becoming authentically yourself.

We'd love to hear your thoughts! After listening, don't forget to leave a comment on YouTube, leave a review, and share your favorite takeaways on social media.

To stay connected, visit us at the following places to help as a guide for you on your journey to becoming an authentic leader!

LinkedIn: Adrian Crawford

Instagram: @writenewrules

TikTok: @writenewrules

Leadership is changing—and the leaders who thrive in today's fast-paced world are the ones who can make quick, confident decisions under pressure.

In this episode of The New Rules Podcast, Adrian breaks down a simple but powerful 3-step framework that every leader needs for sharp, effective decision-making.

Learn how to:

• Use self-awareness to guide your thinking in high-stakes moments

• Perform decision "autopsies" that help you grow from mistakes and wins

• Apply first-principle thinking to cut through the noise and focus on what matters

This isn't about moving fast just to keep up. It's about moving with clarity, confidence, and intention—even when the pressure is on.

🧠 Reflection Questions: • How does anxiety impact your decision-making speed? • Are you reacting to pressure or responding with clarity? • What's one recent decision you wish you had slowed down for?

📲 Connect with Us:

Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review! Share your thoughts on how power and fear have played a role in your own leadership experiences.

Whether you are a corporate leader, parent, or any individual who finds themselves in a position of leadership - we hope this podcast brings you one step closer on the journey to becoming authentically yourself.

We'd love to hear your thoughts! After listening, don't forget to leave a comment on YouTube, leave a review, and share your favorite takeaways on social media.

More of a visual person?

You can WATCH today's episode on our Youtube Channel:

Youtube: youtube.com/WriteNewRules

To stay connected, visit us at the following places to help as a guide for you on your journey to becoming an authentic leader!

LinkedIn: Adrian Crawford

Instagram: @writenewrules

TikTok: @writenewrules

In a world filled with uncertainty, leadership isn't about waiting for clarity—it's about finding the next "yes" in the midst of chaos.

In this episode, Adrian and Bri dive into the challenge of building something meaningful when the rules keep changing. From NIL and the transfer portal in college athletics to launching new ventures in economic downturns, they explore what it means to lead, risk, and stay grounded in purpose—even when nothing feels stable.

You'll hear:

- How to lead authentically when systems feel unfair or inconsistent - Why fear and apathy are the biggest threats in uncertain times - What "finding the yes" looks like in real-life decision-making - Lessons from launching businesses in economic downturns - How to develop the resilience to keep going when you're exhausted

Reflection Questions:

• What's one area of your life where you're waiting for clarity before moving forward?

• Where are you blaming external systems instead of asking "What can I do?"

• What's one risk you've been avoiding that could lead to real growth?

📲 Connect with Us:

Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review! Share your thoughts on how power and fear have played a role in your own leadership experiences.

Whether you are a corporate leader, parent, or any individual who finds themselves in a position of leadership - we hope this podcast brings you one step closer on the journey to becoming authentically yourself.

We'd love to hear your thoughts! After listening, don't forget to leave a comment on YouTube, leave a review, and share your favorite takeaways on social media.

More of a visual person?

You can WATCH today's episode on our Youtube Channel:

Youtube: youtube.com/WriteNewRules

To stay connected, visit us at the following places to help as a guide for you on your journey to becoming an authentic leader!

LinkedIn: Adrian Crawford

Instagram: @writenewrules

TikTok: @writenewrules