Joy Youell was told to ‘become an expert.’ Starting college at 14, she was pushed toward hyper-specialization and a life of academia. But a detour working with the UN in Sudan—and the realization that expertise alone can isolate rather than connect—changed her path. Joy shares how leaving the pursuit of being the expert opened the door to curiosity, leadership, and a life defined by usefulness, not titles.

Sam Reese, CEO of Vistage, shares how the worst advice he ever got—‘separate work and family completely’—shaped years of overwork, ego, and missed moments. In this candid conversation, Sam reflects on burnout, regret, and the shift from compartmentalization to integration, showing why being a whole person matters more than playing separate roles.

Leroy Hite turned ‘fancy firewood’ from a laughable idea into a luxury brand. In this episode, he shares how faith, grit, and one bold decision—selling his house to save his business—transformed Cutting Edge Firewood into a national success.

Chris Cleveland, Head of School at Wesleyan, looks back on the worst advice he ever got: “Do what makes you happy.”

On the surface, it sounds harmless—even good. But in this episode of The Worst Advice I Ever Got, Chris explains how chasing happiness alone can lead to shallow choices, and why purpose, responsibility, and faith create something deeper and more sustaining.

It’s an honest conversation about leadership, values, and the difference between living for happiness and living for meaning.

Kyle followed that rule for years, becoming a decorated airline pilot by shutting his feelings down. But eventually he realized the truth: every decision we make, whether in the air or on the ground, is fueled by emotions. Suppressing them doesn’t make us stronger, it makes us weaker.

In this episode, Kyle shares how unlearning that advice changed his career, his relationships, and his entire approach to leadership. We talk about emotional intelligence, stress as a superpower, why control is a myth, and why real leaders act more like lighthouses than tugboats.

It’s a conversation for anyone who’s been told to “tough it out” or “leave feelings at the door.” Turns out, emotions aren’t the problem. They’re the key.

“The worst advice I ever got was, exercise more and eat less.”

Sammy Williams shares how that advice, repeated over and over, became a damaging mantra that pushed him toward unhealthy extremes and left him battling shame around his body. What sounds simple on the surface was actually harmful, and it took years for him to unlearn it.

In this episode, Sammy opens up about his journey to rebuild a healthier relationship with food, exercise, and himself, and why quick-fix advice can do more harm than good. It is a candid and powerful conversation about healing, self-acceptance, and finding balance beyond the scale.

Hosted by Sean Taylor, produced by JB, and made possible by Smith + Howard.

What happens when the world tells you, “You don’t have to be smart if you’re pretty”?

In this episode, Teresa Caro opens up about the dangerous advice she got early in her career—and how it fueled her drive to prove her worth beyond appearances. From shifting life stages to reinventing herself through every chapter, Teresa shares hard-earned wisdom on:

Breaking free from superficial expectations

Redefining success as you grow and evolve

Building value that lasts longer than looks

It’s an honest, funny, and deeply human conversation about turning bad advice into good stories—and finding your own path forward.

️ Hosted by Sean Taylor, produced by JB, and made possible by Smith + Howard.

What happens when the person you admire most tells you you’re not good enough?

For John Follis, it was a college professor who pulled him aside and said: “You suck at advertising. You should quit.” At 20 years old, chasing a new dream, those words almost knocked him off course.

In this episode, John shares how he pushed past that moment, built resilience through setbacks—including getting fired four times—and eventually co-founded one of the hottest creative agencies on Madison Avenue. His work won awards, landed press in The New York Times and Wall Street Journal, and made him a “secret weapon” for big brands.

In The Karate Kid, the bad advice was “show them who’s boss.” For Matthew Eyers, it wasn’t a movie—it was the real message he was given early on. In this episode of The Worst Advice I Ever Got, Matthew unpacks how that mindset shaped his choices, why it led to more harm than good, and what he’s learned about leading with something stronger than ego.

What if “time heals all wounds” was the worst advice you could take? Clarity consultant Kyle Smith breaks down why healing is an active process, not a waiting game, and shares practical steps to turn pain into personal power.