Big Boss Biscuits

What if the biggest thing standing between you and becoming a great leader... is investing in yourself? When Brandon Lee first stepped into leadership, he was driven, ambitious, and laser-focused on results. But he also admits something many leaders never will: he wasn't a good leader. He lost talented teammates, even valued friendships. He struggled to build trust. He treated people more like...

What do you do when you've climbed the ladder, earned the title, and finally "made it" — only to realize the seat you fought for isn't the one that fits? In this episode, Kirsten sits down with Taylor Coleman — systems thinker, former CX leader, and the kind of guest who tells the truth even when it's uncomfortable. Taylor traces her unlikely path from a bored tier-one rep to...

I pulled my own podcast data and didn't love what I found. 52% of my listeners are women. Only 16% of women who apply to be guests actually show up. That number sent me down a research rabbit hole — imposter syndrome, the broken ladder, the sponsorship gap, the airtime inequality — and into a solo episode that's equal parts data and personal confession. This week on Big Boss Biscuits: why...

In this episode, Kirsten sits down with executive coach and former tech leader Keith Corbin for a conversation that challenges one of the most celebrated ideas in modern leadership — servant leadership. Keith argues that while the intention behind servant leadership is good, it can actually do more harm than good by masking the very power dynamics leaders need to confront head-on. Using Ted Lasso...

This week on Big Boss Biscuits, I’m joined by Frank Smith—leadership coach, culture consultant, and former “accidental CEO” who went from sitting on a folding chair learning the business… to running it for 20 years. No roadmap. No role models. And definitely no desire to become  that  boss. Frank calls his early years “reluctant leadership." We talk about the messy middle: the years of just k...

This episode flips the classic leadership script: what if hitting the numbers isn’t the starting point—but the byproduct? Marty Imes unpacks why so many new leaders default to results-at-all-cost thinking—and how that mindset quietly sabotages the very outcomes they’re chasing. Drawing from his own early missteps (including a humbling moment of upward feedback from a team member named Nicole), Mar...

Leadership isn’t a playbook—it’s more like improv… but with real consequences. Jeff Reid learned that the hard way when he became a manager at 25 with zero roadmap and a team suddenly depending on him. Turns out, you don’t need all the answers—you just need the guts to bet on people, face uncomfortable truths, and figure it out as you go. In this episode, Jeff shares what leadership actually looks...

Ever been told to “tone it down,” “be more corporate,” or “maybe don’t say it  that  directly”? Yeah, this one’s for you. In this unapologetically honest episode, Sam Chandler — Director of Commercial Customer Success at Kustomer and all-around powerhouse in customer and employee engagement — joins Big Boss Biscuits to talk about what it really means to own your story, lead with authenticity, and...

Spoiler Alert: This episode discusses  Ted Lasso and its characters. Most leadership stories celebrate confidence, strategy, and control. This one celebrates something far rarer — the courage to admit when you’ve lost it. In this episode, Kathleen Spearman, Director of Strategic Growth at Instant Teams, reveals the real secret weapon of top leaders:  vulnerability.   A military spouse, social work...

Imagine walking into a workplace where cynicism has become the default, where hope is a rare commodity. Jeff Van Straten's secret? It's simple but revolutionary: see potential in every person, nurture it relentlessly, and create a culture where people believe in what's possible again. From toxic environments to thriving teams, Jeff's been there, doing what others say can't be d...

Not every leader needs to be like Ted Lasso. Karen Lam was the Nate Shelley of her organization—quiet, brilliant, deeply knowledgeable. Then she got promoted. The feedback?  Be louder. Be more visible. Inject more energy.   So she tried. She forced it. And everything fell apart. In this episode, Karen reveals what happened when she stopped performing extroversion and started leading like Coach Bea...

In this engaging conversation, Nate Brown shares his journey of leadership and inspiration through Ted Lasso's leadership style. He discusses the importance of building communities, navigating toxic work environments, and the philosophy of being a 'servant challenger.' The dialogue emphasizes the significance of authenticity, empathy, and the need for leaders to inspire and uplift thei...

What really keeps people motivated at work? Beyond salaries and titles lies something far more powerful — the Emotional Paycheck . In this uplifting and thought-provoking conversation, Dr. Jaime Leal, global speaker, author of Modern Day Miracles , and founder of the Emotional Paycheck Institute of Canada, joins Kirsten Penaloza to explore what it means to lead with empathy, purpose, and humanity....