The Dr. John Bedker Leadership Podcast

#019: Mid-terms - Sense and Meaning Making

Sense and Meaning Making of the 2022 Midterm elections in the United States.  One week following the midterms, Dr. Bedker takes the opportunity to do what leaders do following significant events, to make sense of what happened, and to better understand what it means.  Sense and meaning-making are important constructs for leaders and the midterms were an important leadership event.

#018: GOTV - Get Out To Vote

Episode 18 is provided just prior to the midterm elections in the United States.  Dr. Bedker encourages all eligible people to vote in the upcoming election.  Voting is a right, it is a responsibility, a civic duty, and most importantly it is a display of your engagement in our/your democracy.  It is an act of leadership.  Doing the right thing, and standing up for truth and freedom; are critical leadership imperatives. Vote!

#017: Belarus Pt. 4

Episode 17 provides a summary of the Belarus Series.  Synthesis of each episode of the series is given with a specific connection to the current experience in the United States.  The case is made as a “cautionary tale” for the United States to not pursue a path toward autocracy.  Dr. Bedker makes clear the case for leadership in these turbulent times.  “Do the right thing."

#016: Belarus Pt. 3

In this third installment on the country of Belarus, Dr. John Bedker addresses the leader, the President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko.  It is a tale of position and power, not of leadership.  In this episode, John makes clear the path of Belarus, the path to autocracy, and the last remaining dictatorship in Europe. It is a path, in Dr. Bedker's opinion, that is not dissimilar to the path the United States is on.  Government leaders and faith leaders are challenged to “do the right thing,”  to not replicate the history of “leadership" in Belarus.   The peril of democracy in the United States is real and Belarus may be a frightening end game to view.  This episode of the Leadership Works Podcast addresses the many leadership challenges to the future of democracy in the United States.

#015: Belarus Pt. 2

In this second episode of the Belarus Series, Dr. John Bedker shares the current state of Belarus socially, politically, economically, and militarily.  Leadership insights are given on each of these axes to the country of Belarus and for their implications for the United States.  The case is made for leaders to be mindful of the paths of other countries as they may inform governmental leadership in the United States.  Democracy may be imperfect and fragile, but it is well worth fighting for. This second episode of the Belarus series makes this case clear.

#014: Belarus Pt. 1

In this episode, Dr. John Bedker begins a four-part series on the country of Belarus.  Sitting at the crossroads of East and West, Belarus has an increasingly important position geographically, politically, and geopolitically.  The leadership navigation and leadership strategies employed are key to the future of Belarus and this important crossroads in our world.  This introductory episode lays out the topics and critical issues to be reviewed in this important leadership series on the country of Belarus.

#013: Gun Violence in America - Sequel

In this week's episode, Dr. John Bedker follows up on his recent Leadership Works Podcast on the mass shootings in Buffalo, NY, and Uvalde, TX.  The call for leaders to act, to do the right thing, is advanced.  Political leaders and Faith leaders are challenged to lead.  Macro gun violence data is unwrapped to reveal the concentrated and localized nature of gun violence in the United States.  The root causes of gun violence;  poverty and fear are documented.

#012: Reflective Practice

Reflective Practice is the focus of Episode 12.  Reflective Practice is an important leadership tool for successful leaders.  In this episode, Dr. John Bedker takes the listeners on a forward-looking reflective journey. A 1-2 year forward timeline is set to consider where we might or could be socially, politically, economically, and militarily.  John poses reflective questions on each of these axes.  The episode concludes by asking the listeners where we will be as Americans in 1-2 years.  From the gun culture in the USA to the war in Ukraine. Episode 12 is an important reflective journey for everyone.

#011: Gun Violence in America - A Leadership Perspective

This episode was recorded after the mass shooting in Buffalo, New York, but before the tragic mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas.  Dr. John Bedker focuses on gun violence and the gun culture in America as a Leadership moment.  Are we going to “do the right thing?’  This is the ultimate definition of leadership and the challenge of us all to be problem-solving leaders regarding gun violence and mass shootings.  Dr. Bedker will provide another episode on this crucial topic as events unfold in Uvalde, Texas, and in our Federal government.

#010 Steve Kerr - An Exemplary Leader

Episode 10- Steve Kerr- Exemplary Leader

In this episode, Dr. John Bedker takes a deep dive into an exemplary and highly successful leader in the world of basketball.  The focus is on Steve Kerr, head coach of the NBA Golden State Warriors.  It is Steve Kerr’s back story, the formative and developmental experiences of his life that have led to Steve Kerr’s leadership pillars: Joy, Competition, Compassion and Mindfulness.  John shares his insights into Steve Kerr’s leadership pillars and coaching philosophy.