The Dr. John Bedker Leadership Podcast

In this episode, Dr. Bedker follows up on the Boeing leadership story that began in Episode 22. Follow-up is an important leadership competency and Dr. Bedker models this competency in this episode. Judgment and decision-making are highlighted. Incidents and events by suppliers and Boeing’s regulator, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are documented. 

In this most important episode, Dr. Bedker discusses the current inflection point of U.S. global leadership. Does the United States retreat to isolationism and unravel the many global alliances that have accounted for peace and prosperity, or do we persevere in the grand experiment of democracy? Thought leaders and elected officials are quoted in this episode, from radio host Charlemagne Tha God to Ambassador John Herbst, to Dr. Fiona Hill. The article concludes by quoting Vice President Kamala Harris's remarks at the Munich Security Conference.

In this episode, Dr. Bedker takes a complex topic with many moving parts and synthesizes the topic to better understand the role of leadership of the Federal Reserve. Chairman Jay Powell, the leader of the Fed is showcased. His many leadership challenges to provide a stable and growing economy with full employment is an immense challenge. Leadership core competencies of judgment and decision-making are highlighted.

Dr. John Bedker operationalizes key leadership core competencies for our troubled world. What leadership competencies do each of us need, as leaders, in these turbulent times?  John unpacks several of them. From reflection to grounding in the truth, to empathy, Dr. Bedker operationalizes these leadership core competencies. Frequently practicing these competencies with genuineness, and intent over time is essential and needed in our world today.

In this first episode of 2024, Dr. Bedker takes a look ahead into the new year. Tom Standage, the editor of The World Ahead 2024 has written the cover article for The Economist and this piece serves as the source for this year’s first episode. A top 10 list is given by Standage as ‘themes to watch” in 2024. Dr. Bedker provides a contextual leadership framework for each of these themes. 2024 will be a year of many challenges for leaders.

In this year-end episode Dr. Bedker delivers a review of this past year’s episodes. It has been a busy and very challenging year for leaders and leadership. From institutions to individuals Dr. Bedker has showcased the good and the bad. Exemplary leaders such as Steve Kerr and Bill Russell began the year and fellow exemplars Rosalyn Carter and Charlie Munger, both having recently passed are showcased more recently. Leadership truly is critical in our world today. Leaders have never been more important.

In this episode, Dr. Bedker quotes two iconic leaders, Rosalynn Carter and Charlie Munger, as a means to share their lives of exemplars in leadership.  Rosalynn Carter, the first lady of Georgia and first lady of the United States, and Charlie Munger, vice-chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, the hugely successful investment company are showcased for their lives of exemplary leadership.  We all can learn from their lifetimes of leadership by example.  They modeled the leadership way.

In this episode Dr. Bedker talks a walk down the leadership boardwalk. He showcases current social, political, economic, military, labor and sports leadership events in our world today.  This episode is a cameo for leaders across several of the central components of our lives. Are we “doing the right thing” from a leadership perspective? Sometimes yes, and sometimes no. Each is given attention in this contemporaneous episode.

The episode focuses on a key leadership axiom: "For leadership to be effective it must be consistent." Historical and current examples are given from a David Leonhardt article to showcase both the successes and failures of leaders as they try to lead diverse groups. For leaders to do the right thing, they may be able to effect positive change through eliminating or mitigating even one variable in a leadership challenge. The metaphor of the fire triangle is offered to make this point.

The leadership of the United States House of Representatives is a mess. The former senior leader, the Speaker of the House, Kevin McCarthy was ousted. Two weeks have passed and the Representative, Jim Jordan, that has been seeking the speakership has faltered on his first two attempts to win the votes necessary to become Speaker. In this episode Dr. Bedker details those events and provides a leadership picture for the opposing party, the Democratic Party. Hakeem Jeffries, the Minority Leader is showcased.