Leadership doesn’t have to be complicated. In this episode ofYour Next Best Step, I sit down with Jay Adcock, a global coach and movement leader, to uncover why the best leaders lean into simplicity, curiosity, and consistency.

Jay’s story takes us from leaving the corporate world with a 100% pay cut to building a coaching movement that’s training thousands of leaders in nearly 100 countries. Along the way, he shares the lessons learned in South Africa, the power of asking better questions, and the importance of small, sustainable shifts that add up to massive impact.

This conversation is packed with real-life stories, practical frameworks, and timeless leadership wisdom to help you take your own next best step.

We explore:

• Why Simple + Obvious = Genius is a game-changing leadership principle

• How small shifts over time (the “2 Degrees Mindset”) create long-term transformation

• What holistic leadership looks like (physical, emotional, social, spiritual)

In this episode of Your Next Best Step, I welcome a longtime friend and leader, Charlie Mitchell, into the Locker Room for a powerful conversation about calling, curiosity, and courage in the face of change.

Charlie opens up about growing up in Fort Myers, losing his parents young, and stepping into unexpected responsibility as a teenager. He shares how those experiences shaped his heart for cross-cultural ministry, eventually leading him to plant churches in some of America’s toughest neighborhoods—from Camden to Baltimore.

Together, Charlie and I explore:

• Why curiosity is a leader’s superpower—and how “what if” questions spark breakthrough.

• Lessons learned from planting churches in urban communities.

• The importance of listening before leading in any new context.

• Navigating health crises and life detours with faith and resilience.

• How betrayal, setbacks, and failure can become seeds for deeper impact.

Charlie also talks about the birth of Maroon House, his coaching and soul care community for pastors, entrepreneurs, and leaders who don’t fit the mold but are called to make a difference.

If you’ve ever felt stuck, questioned your path, or wondered what’s next, this episode will remind you that being human isn’t failure—it’s the starting point for your next best step

What happens when success isn’t enough?

In this episode of Your Next Best Step, Brek Cockrell sits down with Nick Kennedy, a serial entrepreneur who built and sold three companies, including an airline—before stepping into his true calling as an executive coach.

Nick opens up about:

Growing up with a father in prison and how it shaped his drive.

Building businesses in healthcare and aviation, and what success cost him at home.

The wake-up call from his wife that forced him to redefine leadership.

Why the loneliness of leadership is real, and how vulnerability changes everything.

Lessons from his book The Good Entrepreneur and the practices that keep him grounded today.

Whether you’re a CEO, entrepreneur, or purpose-driven leader, this conversation will challenge you to slow down, stay curious, and take your next best step.

In this powerful conversation, Brek sits down with longtime friend and higher education leader Scott Traylor to unpack a core leadership truth: saying “everyone matters” is easy... but making people feel it is what transforms culture.

Scott shares his journey of stepping into a vice president role during the Great Resignation, leading nearly 1,000 staff and faculty through turnover, burnout, and transition. Together, Brek and Scott explore:

• Why trust, collaboration, and accountability became the cornerstone values for his team

• How leaders can create environments where staff feel truly seen, heard, and valued

• The difference between transactional leadership and value-driven leadership

• Practical steps for slowing down, listening, and building rhythms that sustain healthy culture

Whether you’re leading a small team, a classroom, or an entire organization, this episode will challenge you to ask: “Do the people I lead feel that they matter?”

Because at the end of the day, leadership isn’t about titles or results—it’s about people.

What if the secret to becoming a better leader isn’t about titles or tactics, but about values, clarity, and the willingness to grow? In this episode of Your Next Best Step, I sit down with longtime friend and national mortgage lender Joshua Dean to unpack the “cheat codes” every leader needs to navigate business, team dynamics, and personal growth.

Joshua shares candid lessons from leading in the mortgage industry and beyond, how identifying his core values shifted his leadership, why curiosity beats quick answers, and how clarity is actually the ultimate form of kindness. Together, they explore the frameworks that help leaders move from stuck to thriving, including practical insights on coaching, accountability, and building teams rooted in trust and excellence.

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to be on the other side of your leadership, or how to close the gap between your dream, your drains, and your doubts—this episode will challenge and equip you to take your own next best step.

In this episode of Your Next Best Step, we sit down with Kyria Stephens to unpack what it really takes to lead with impact. From setbacks and doubt to building a movement, Kyria shares how vulnerability, clarity, and consistency shaped his journey from $7.25 an hour to the C-suite and beyond. If you’ve ever wondered what it looks like to lead with courage when the pressure is on—this conversation will show you why vulnerability is the real leadership flex.

Welcome to Your Next Best Step, the leaders’ locker room. In this short kickoff episode, Brek Cockrell shares why he’s starting the podcast, the journey that led him here, and what you can expect in the weeks ahead. Through real stories, practical strategies, and rooted leadership wisdom, you’ll be inspired to slow down, reflect, and take the next best step in your leadership.