Loss changes the lens through which we see the world, and that’s not always a bad thing. For Tom Turcich, the tragic passing of a close friend he had in high school served as a spark that ignited in his heart which ultimately led to him walking around the world. Tom meticulously planned and prepared for this epic journey, which took him seven years to complete, spanning 38 countries on six continents. Along the way, Tom faced numerous challenges, but his commitment to his values and goals allowed him to persevere in spite of it all. He emphasizes the importance of defining one's core values and then structuring one's life accordingly, even if it means accepting certain constraints. Through his transformative experience, Tom says he gained a deeper understanding of humanity, recognizing both the kindness and challenges he encountered across various cultures. He also learned to embrace failure as a path to growth, encouraging others to be more "reckless" in pursuing their dreams.

Discover the power within you and learn to lead yourself with some of the techniques and practices outlined by bestselling author Heather Younger. Heather shares how challenging experiences like a corporate merger and layoff led her to focus on the importance of self-leadership and owning one's mindset, a practice that has helped her transform her own life. She emphasizes that leaders must prioritize their own well-being and not be afraid to acknowledge their progress, even in seemingly small ways.

There is something pretty powerful about choosing to follow your dreams in spite of others thinking you’re crazy. Author Loren Ridinger joins On Leadership to share her story of doing just that as an entrepreneur who defied conventional expectations and built an empire from scratch. Loren’s story isn’t just about entrepreneurship; it’s about the courage to reject someone else’s identity and embrace your own. She reveals how staying true to her vision, even when others doubted her, changed the course of her life.

Known to many as America’s Nicest Judge, Judge Frank Caprio joins On Leadership to share his inspiring life story and his approach to compassionate justice in the courtroom. Raised by working-class immigrant parents, Judge Frank credits his upbringing for instilling him with the values of honesty, integrity, decency, and compassion. He proudly brings these values to life in the courtroom as he works to truly understand the circumstances and life experiences of those who come before him. Judge Frank’s TV show has made him an internet sensation, but he maintains a humble, authentic demeanor and views his legacy as being kind, understanding, and compassionate with all he comes in contact with.

On Leadership is joined by an American icon: Al Roker, a longtime broadcaster and journalist who has worked at NBC for over 45 years, including nearly 30 years as a co-anchor on the TODAY Show, joins the podcast for a reflective discussion on his legacy. Al walks us through his career journey, including how he got his start in television and became a weather forecaster on the TODAY Show, and offers advice for aspiring leaders and professionals, emphasizing the importance of a strong work ethic and being prepared for opportunities when they arise. Al also shares how he navigates balancing his successful career in the spotlight with raising a family and what he’s learned from the challenges he’s faced as a working parent.

A lot could possibly go right with our AI future according to venture capitalist, entrepreneur, and bestselling author, Reid Hoffman. The LinkedIn co-founder joins On Leadership to discuss his new book, Superagency, emphasizing the importance of embracing a “technohumanist compass” as we all aim to more effectively leverage technology in business. Reid argues that AI is not here to replace people, but to augment and empower them. He encourages people to proactively learn how to integrate AI tools into their work to stay adaptive and competitive. As a leader, Reid suggests that key competencies for the future will include nimbleness, continuous learning, and the ability to effectively integrate AI tools and technologies into individual, team, and organizational workflows. He believes this mindset shift is critical for companies and leaders to thrive amidst the coming technological changes.

Learning how to thrive in an age of conflict is a superpower, and its one very close to William Ury’s heart. William joins On Leadership to share stories that illustrate key principles he has learned about negotiation that works. Setting aside your own agenda to truly listen and connect with the other person and focusing on finding creative solutions that satisfy the interests of all sides are among the principles William brings to life with his stories. He also emphasizes the importance of becoming someone who is curious, creative, and collaborative in approaching conflicts and challenges, a powerful combination he attributes to “Possibilists.”

Build stronger connections and make more effective decisions tapping into an elevated understanding of facial expressions with Annie Sarnblad. Annie shares how to better detect people's true emotions and intentions, even if they are trying to hide them. She discusses how, as a leader, it is important to be able to read the facial expressions and body language of your team members to understand what they are really thinking and feeling. This can help you build trust, get honest feedback, and make better decisions.