Second Life Leader

We trace why “bring your whole self to work” fell flat, how subtle detractor patterns (ignoring, courtesy code switching, email habits) silently erode trust, and why inclusion is less about demographics and more about everyday micro-behaviors. Kimberly makes it real: when team members only get replies if they CC the boss, people stop trying. When leaders say they value input but don’t create safet...

We start with a simple truth: if something triggers you, it owns you. From marriages strained by defensiveness, to children calling out their father’s lack of emotional intelligence, Chad shows how unchecked reactions erode trust, respect, and legacy. His own turning point came when his son told him he had “zero emotional intelligence.” Instead of firing back, Chad began the slow work of asking wh...

Right now, companies are leaning hard on AI—sometimes instead of people. Engagement is tanking, anxiety is spiking, and most leaders have no playbook. We unpack why workers sneak AI into their jobs, how silence from the top fuels fear, and why “pizza parties” don’t solve the fulfillment gap. The real story: engagement ≠ purpose. People want meaning, not slogans. And AI, like an Ivy League intern,...

Most leaders think they’re setting the tone—but often, it’s someone else. Matt breaks down how to identify the real influencers in the room, recognize subtle shifts, and build a repeatable process for situational mastery. From his decades in sports medicine and leadership research, Matt shows how the same tools used to train Olympic athletes apply to executives, dads, and anyone navigating high-st...

In this episode, Tracy and I break down why leaders cling to stories instead of facts, how “no one wants to work” is rarely true, and why 89% turnover in 90 days doesn’t mean failure—it means you’re solving the wrong problem. We dig into the hidden costs of poor onboarding, why perfection is the enemy of progress, and how small experiments compound into lasting change. We also role-play the hard c...

Former EOS implementer, author, and manufacturing CEO Michael Erath joins me to explore what happens when business frameworks turn from liberators into cages—and how elite organizations escape the trap. Rigid systems like EOS can bring chaos under control, but stop short of greatness. Michael and I dig into why prescriptive “20 tools forever” models break down at scale, how to design for outcomes...

Negotiation coach and author Saad A Saad joins Doug to rethink what “the ask” really means—why win-win isn’t always wise, how to thrive even with less power, and why tension isn’t the enemy but the spark of creativity. Most people think negotiation is stressful or adversarial. But Saad reframes it as an outcome-based conversation —something we’re all in daily, whether with clients, colleagues, or...

Retired social worker Jack Kammer (MaleFriendly Media) joins me to separate real men’s issues from the manosphere circus—and map a sane path forward. Most conversations about men mistake the pyramid for the whole picture. Yes, a few at the top feast—but millions grind at the bottom. In this episode, retired social worker Jack Kammer and I dismantle lazy patriarchy takes, unpack mating market math...

This week I sit down with Damon Lembi , a man who once stood on the edge of a pro baseball career, only to watch that dream disappear in his early 20s. What followed was not the straight-line success story that corporate planners love to sell—but the messy, real work of reinvention. We go deep on: * Why life almost never moves in a straight line—and why that’s a gift, not a curse * How failure is...

Burnout doesn’t come from weakness—it comes when your greatest strengths turn against you. In this conversation, Scott Anderson breaks down how perfectionism and endless “yeses” fuel early success but eventually scale into exhaustion, despair, and collapse. We dig into: * Why the common “solutions” to burnout actually make it worse. * The existential moment when superpowers become kryptonite. * Ho...

Former corporate soldier turned sovereign strategist Doug Utberg dives deep with Amazon bestselling author Charlie Newcomb on the many hats of effective leadership—listening to lead, influencing without authority, delegating without losing accountability, and knowing when to break the rules you wrote. From 40+ years in McDonald’s corporate trenches to high-stakes sales, Charlie shares how to manag...

Second Life Leader is where burned-out high achievers come to rebuild—not retreat. I’m Doug Utberg, former corporate soldier turned sovereign strategist. If the old game broke you but didn’t kill your fire, you’re in the right place. In this episode, I’m joined by John Knowlton , a veteran of 20+ mergers and acquisitions, to unpack the real playbook for buying and scaling businesses without sinkin...

Leadership isn’t hard ... It’s brutal. In this episode of Second Life Leader , I sit down with Alan Lazaros —CEO of Next Level University, 10,000+ hours of coaching, 2,000+ podcast episodes—and we tear the mask off what real leadership demands. We talk: * The brutal reality of scaling too fast (and crashing harder) * The secret poison of B players who think they’re A’s * Why obsession is necessary...

What if “work-life balance” was the wrong question ? In this electrifying episode of Second Life Leader , Doug Utberg sits down with executive coach and former Fortune 500 insider Lindsay Barnett to dismantle the productivity cult and offer something radically more powerful: work-life harmony . This isn’t another burnout sob story. It’s a tactical reframe for warriors, rebuilders, and sovereigns r...

What if your greatest limitation isn't a skill gap—but a silent script you're still obeying? In this episode of Second Life Leader , I’m joined by Kevin Palmieri , host of Next Level University , for a direct, unsanitized conversation about core wounds, hidden rules, and the unspoken patterns that govern performance—at work, in leadership, and in life. We unpack: * Why some people fear failure—and...

🎙️ Think Fast. Work Smart. Improv Your Way Through the Corporate Jungle. What if the key to smarter, faster, more adaptive leadership wasn’t another MBA… but improv? In this episode of Second Life Leader , I sit down with Andrew Davies , improv coach and founder of Artly Working, to unpack the unexpected power of improvisation inside the office jungle. We’re not talking about cheesy trust falls or...

When life overloads you with noise, you don’t need more information—you need a play sheet. In this episode of Second Life Leader , Doug Utberg sits down with Brian Hurtak , corporate strategist and author of The Play Sheet , to explore how football coaches manage complexity—and how you can do the same in your career, relationships, or personal reinvention. ⚔️ Whether you're facing a divorce, a re-...

In this episode, Doug speaks with Ken Cox about how AI can be deployed in small businesses to generate tremendous value. One of the biggest things most small businesses can do to increase their revenue is to ensure the phones are always answered. However, this is frequently difficult since business owners must choose between operating their business and answering the phone to potentially intake ne...

In this episode, Doug speaks with Kamran Loghman about how the ‘Warriors Mindset’ from eastern philosophy can be brought into the work and lives of people in the West. In a world that worships comfort, distraction, and cheap dopamine, we stand for something ancient. This isn’t your typical pep-talk on grit. It’s a deep dive into the timeless warrior mindset—drawn from the stoic sword of Japan’s sa...

In this episode, Doug speaks with Giorgio Natili about the importance of trust when leading. Our conversation took place specifically within the context of technology companies, since many engineers are promoted to management based on technical expertise. As it turns out, leading people requires a much different skillset, which is what we discuss. If you want to know more about Giorgio, click belo...

In this episode, Doug speaks with Dale about the importance of adaptability in leadership. In the world of leadership, one of the most important things we can do is ask ‘why’ and take our curiosity out to the people we are looking to lead and influence. If you want to know more about Dale, click below: https://leadadaptimpact.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/daleturnbull/ If you’re a business lead...

In this episode, Doug speaks with Elona Lopari about incorporating purpose into a profit generating business. There is a tendency in the business world to emphasize the ‘bottom line’ to the exclusion of other value drivers. In this episode, we discuss how purpose is one of those key value drivers, and the way to integrate it into a business and make it even more successful. If you want to know mor...

In this episode, Doug speaks with Jeremy Barker about his journey through two bankruptcies to tremendous success with Murphy Door and Murphy Ladder Much of what our conversation revolved around was the difference between having access to resources and being resourceful. Many businesses stop trying to solve hard problems once they have resources, and Jeremy sees that as a big area for weakness. Bec...

In this episode, Doug speaks with team leadership strategist Isabelle Fortin about human-centered leadership. They discuss the distinction between leadership and management, emphasizing the importance of treating employees as unique individuals. Isabelle highlights the need for leaders to support and empower their team members, rather than just managing tasks. They also explore the lack of leaders...

In this episode, Doug speaks with Yosi Kossowsky about about transitioning from judgment to awareness in leadership. They discuss how leaders can cultivate curiosity and self-awareness to manage challenges, reduce anxiety, and avoid binary thinking. Yoshi emphasizes practical strategies over theory, sharing insights from his engineering background. The episode highlights the importance of consciou...