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The art and craft of leadership is more important in today’s turbulent world than ever before. If you want to learn about what makes a great leader and be able to apply leadership skills to enrich your life and those around you, then this podcast is for you. Dr. John Bedker shares a lifetime of real leadership experiences and unpacks the ins and outs of what makes a great leader...and what does not. Gain actionable insights for your own leadership journey and learn from stories of the world’s most effective leaders across all walks of life. Visit our website at: https://drjohnbedkerleadership.com/
Episodes

5 hours ago
#084: The Case for Unifying Leadership
5 hours ago
5 hours ago
James Carville makes the case for unifying leadership in a New York Times guest essay. It is a simple argument with a simple message. Repeal President Trump’s “one big, beautiful bill.” This simple messaging from an iconic political strategist is a messaging lesson for all leaders. Keep it clear, keep it simple, have it have meaning and actual impact on voters. And, conclude with hope.

Friday Jul 11, 2025
#083: Catastrophic Events
Friday Jul 11, 2025
Friday Jul 11, 2025
In our turbulent world catastrophe is all around. Do catastrophic events change us, or not? This is the leadership question for today. We all know what is right and what is not, but will we change course after a catastrophe, or will we persist on abdicating our role and our responsibility as leaders. We put our country and or world in peril when we do.

Friday Jun 27, 2025
#082: Trump and Leadership on Iran and Israel
Friday Jun 27, 2025
Friday Jun 27, 2025

Friday Jun 13, 2025
#081: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - Harvard Speech
Friday Jun 13, 2025
Friday Jun 13, 2025
I love listening each year to the commencement speakers at universities around our world. Great thoughts, great ideas. Often funny, but routinely from the heart. This year, at Class Day for the Harvard Class of 2025, the speaker was Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. His thoughts were an exemplar for each of us in our leadership journeys. He drew upon history, Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr., he gave a call to action, and challenged each in the audience to be doers of “the right thing” for life. An exemplary leader, speaking to tomorrow's leaders.

Friday May 30, 2025
#080: Understanding Who You are Leading
Friday May 30, 2025
Friday May 30, 2025
As Bob Dylan said, “The Times They are a Changing.” Our world is definitely changing. It is more turbulent, more chaotic, more unstable, and more uncertain. The clinging to rigid ideologies, and the fealty to leaders that espouse these ideologies are a source of concern for our turbulent world. Dr. Leor Zmigrod and her book, “The Ideological Brain” inform this episode.

Friday May 16, 2025
#079: Pope Leo XIV
Friday May 16, 2025
Friday May 16, 2025
The Catholic Church has a new leader, Pope Leo XIV. An American citizen and Peruvian citizen. He has training, knowledge, and experience that prepares him well for this new position of leadership. Time will tell his capacity to navigate our troubled and turbulent world. Time will also tell his capacity to navigate a divided Catholic Church. Doing the right thing, the ultimate call to leadership, will be ever-present in his papacy.

Friday May 02, 2025
#078: Empathy - A Critical Leadership Core Competency
Friday May 02, 2025
Friday May 02, 2025
Empathy is a critical leadership core competency. Empathy enhances trust, improves your communication, and aids in optimising the performance of those you serve. Skills such as active listening and displays of compassion and vulnerability contribute to the effectiveness of the empathetic leader. Where is President Trump in his first 100 days as an empathetic leader? This podcast addresses his actions and performance.

Friday Apr 18, 2025
#077: Decoupling - Implications for Leaders
Friday Apr 18, 2025
Friday Apr 18, 2025
Decoupling is the elimination, alteration, or removal of a long-standing practice or arrangement. Trade and tariffs are sparking this debate about whether to decouple from China and/or other countries that have been trading partners for the United States. But decoupling is pervasive. It impacts not only business but also politics, personal relations, academia, and even institutions as deeply rooted as religion. The courses chosen will significantly impact our world going forward. Decoupling awareness, understanding, and management are essential for leaders.

Friday Apr 04, 2025
#076: Speak Up and Speak Out
Friday Apr 04, 2025
Friday Apr 04, 2025
Senator Cory Booker spoke for over 25 consecutive hours on the floor of the United States Senate this week. He Spoke Up and he Spoke Out. It was not a partisan speech. It was a speech about right and wrong. As leaders, we are all called to do the right thing. This is our call to action. Speaking Up and Speaking Out is a leader's call to action. We do this with our voice and with our vote. Speak Up and Speak Out.

Friday Mar 21, 2025
#075: Exemplary Public Servant
Friday Mar 21, 2025
Friday Mar 21, 2025