Who are your real friends, and who are your deal friends? In this week’s episode, Ben explores a concept from Arthur Brooks about the difference between relationships rooted in commitment and those built around transaction. Deal friends aren’t bad, but confusion happens when we expect them to show up like real friends when they were never meant to. 

Watch this episode to reflect on how to recognize the difference and how to invest intentionally in the few relationships that matter most. Don’t forget to download this episode’s With Purpose planner – linked here.

Do you know how gold is refined? It’s a messy but necessary process of heating, washing, and reheating the raw gold ore again and again. This process allows gold to become more of itself, despite the harshness of the journey. In this week’s episode, Ben reflects on that process and how it mirrors the way adversity shapes leaders. It’s often in the most uncomfortable moments that real growth begins.

Is there a challenge in your life you could reframe as a refining opportunity? Plan your week and reflect on it using this episode’s With Purpose planner – linked here.

Conflict is inevitable, but carrying it with us isn’t doing us any favors. In this episode, Ben talks about the idea of “keeping short accounts” in our relationships by addressing misunderstandings quickly instead of letting them compound. 

Watch this episode to unpack why we avoid hard conversations, how discomfort tricks us into delay, and what actually builds trust when things go wrong.

Is there a conversation you’ve been putting off? Plan your week and take one small step toward it using this episode’s With Purpose planner – ⁠linked here⁠.

How do you measure progress when you’re chasing something big? Too often, we measure progress by how far we still have to go – and then move the goalposts when we finally get there. Isn’t there a better way? 

This week on With Purpose, we challenge listeners to stop measuring the gap and start measuring the gain. How far have you already come? What obstacles have you already overcome? And how might that shift change the way you lead, plan, and keep going?

Don’t forget to use this week’s planner to reflect on last week’s progress and plan your week ahead – ⁠linked here⁠.

Have you ever played Bandu? It’s a stacking game from the 90s with oddly shaped pieces and a handful of beans. In this episode, Ben explains how the strategy of this game can be seen as a metaphor for life – because it’s difficult to build a stable tower if you say yes to everything. Stability, both in the game and in life is about choosing the right pieces to accept and the right ones to let go.

What have you stacked that’s making your tower unstable? And what would you give up to protect its strength? 

Reflect and plan your week with purpose using this episode’s planner – ⁠linked here⁠.

Buffaloes don’t avoid storms – they run straight into them. In this episode, we explore what that mindset can teach us about leadership and life. Avoidance feels easier in the moment, but it often makes challenges last longer. Charging forward shortens the storm and builds resilience.

What would it look like to stop dodging hard conversations and start moving through them?

Grab this week’s planner, reflect on the storms ahead, and plan with purpose – linked here.

What does Tetris have to do with leadership? In this episode, we’re talking about the Tetris Effect and how it connects to confirmation bias – the way our brains filter the world through what we expect to see. From Shawn Achor’s research in The Happiness Advantage to practical ideas for reframing your perspective, this conversation will challenge you to notice your biases and even use them for good.

How can you create positive patterns in your own life?

Listen in, reflect and plan your week with purpose using this episode’s planner – linked here.

Happy New Year! Today's episode is about hitting the reset button after a hard day –  or maybe even a hard year.

How do you reset when something throws you off? Let's talk about rituals – small, intentional actions that help us recenter and move forward. From research on how a quick laugh can boost performance to examples of leaders using physical reminders to overcome fear, this conversation is all about practical ways to stay grounded when life gets messy.

What’s your go-to reset? Share your ideas in the comments, and plan your week with purpose using this episode’s planner. 

Merry Christmas everyone! Put your phones down, and spend some time with your friends and family!

Big plans and big goals are exciting, but what about the ordinary moments in between? In this episode, Ben reflects on Mary Jean Irion’s quote about the “normal day” and why the small, unplanned moments often hold the most meaning. Can we create space for those moments of normalcy? Even in our roles of leadership? Today, we talk about some practical ideas for leaving room in your schedule and being where your feet are.

Download this week’s With Purpose planner and plan your week with intention. Linked here.