Step Wise

A kid with asthma and allergies growing up in Saint Louis is not the profile you'd guess for someone who ends up standing on the summit of Everest six times. Luis Benitez did exactly that, and along the way became the guide who led Erik Weihenmayer, the first blind climber, to the top of the world. Luis has spent his career at the intersection of extreme adventure and public policy. He went o...

Half of all CEOs say they feel lonely in their role. Sixty-one percent say it actively hurts their performance. So why don't more leaders talk about it? In this episode, Foster sits down across the table for an unusually candid conversation about his own experience with loneliness, the moment that started separating his ego from his identity, and what it actually took to build relationships h...

Benjamin Smith was a high school quarterback who could hit every throw in practice and none of them under pressure. That gap between what he could do alone and what he could do with everyone watching became the question that's driven his entire career: where does steady confidence actually come from, and why does it disappear the moment it matters most? Benjamin is a performance and wellness...

"It's not going to happen to my niece." That sentence, Sarabeth Rees says, is the most dangerous one we tell ourselves. It feels true, it feels protective, and it is almost always wrong. Sarabeth is the Executive Director of Everstrong (formerly Stolen Youth), a Seattle nonprofit working to prevent the sexual exploitation and trafficking of children through education, empowerment, a...

Margaret Aitken spent a decade as press secretary to Senator Joe Biden, and what she watched up close wasn't political strategy. It was the quiet, specific way one person could make a room full of strangers feel genuinely heard. She took that education and built a career helping leaders do the same thing, mostly for companies navigating the kind of uncertainty where people stop talking and st...

Seven NCAA championships. An Olympic silver medal. A breast cancer diagnosis. A torn Achilles. Between them, Valorie Kondos Field and Sam Peszek have racked up more defining moments than most people face in a lifetime. What they've learned from all of it isn't what you'd expect. In this conversation, Foster Mobley sits down with legendary UCLA gymnastics coach Miss Val and Olympic m...

Something is different about Season 3. Step Wise has always been about the kind of wisdom that doesn't make the highlight reel. The decisions made at 2am. The moment a coach says the thing nobody else will say. The quiet conversation that changes everything. This season, we're going wider and deeper. The guests coming to Season 3 aren't all from the same boardroom. A coach who built...

In this reflective season finale of Step Wise , the mic turns toward our host, Dr. Foster Mobley. Interviewed by Jana Devan, Foster explores what it means to lead with empathy, presence, and wisdom in a world defined by speed and complexity. Together, they unpack the non-negotiables of modern leadership and the best leadership advice, self-awareness, emotional grounding, and authentic connection,...

What does it take to lead with wisdom in a world that never stops changing? In this episode of Step Wise, Dr. Foster Mobley sits down with Dr. Matt Brubaker, Chairman and CEO of FMG Leading, a premier human-capital firm transforming the healthcare industry through leadership. Together, they explore how modern leaders can stay grounded in their humanity while driving performance in complex, investo...

Conflict isn’t something to avoid—it’s something to understand. In this episode of Step Wise , Dr. Foster Mobley sits down with Mark Eckhardt , co-founder and CEO of Common and founder of 1 Million Truths, to explore what it means to lead in a time when every system around us is changing. Mark shares how neuroscience and conflict science reveal the hidden pressures leaders face today, why self-awa...

Jim Fielding has spent more than three decades leading some of the world’s most iconic brands—Disney, DreamWorks, and 20th Century Fox. Today, he’s an author, speaker, coach, and host of the Jim Fielding & Friends podcast. In this conversation with Dr. Foster Mobley, Jim reflects on his journey from corporate executive to solopreneur, sharing the wisdom he’s gained along the way. Together, the...

In this Step Wise conversation, Dr. Foster Mobley sits down with Roberta Tinch , President at Inova Mount Vernon Hospital and healthcare leader in the Inova Health System. Roberta shares how presence, reflection, and intentional pacing shape her leadership—and why balancing relational connection with rigorous accountability is critical in today’s environment. Listeners will hear Roberta’s perspect...

Can love be a leadership strategy? Dr. Julie Kennedy Oehlert thinks so, and she’s got the experience to prove it. In this soul-stirring episode of Step Wise , Julie joins Dr. Foster Mobley to explore what it really takes to lead with courage, empathy, and purpose in a system as complex and high-stakes as healthcare. Drawing on her background as an ER nurse, healthcare executive, brand officer, and...

Andy Levine didn’t set out to build one of the world’s top-rated adventure travel companies, he just wanted to ride his bike through France. But that passion sparked DuVine Cycling + Adventure Co., now a global leader in luxury cycling tours. In this episode, Dr. Foster Mobley talks with Andy about the leadership values that shaped his company: authenticity, attention to detail, and a relentless c...

In this episode of Step Wise , Dr. Foster Mobley sits down with Will Price—venture capitalist, leadership podcaster, and founder of Next Frontier Capital—for a deeply insightful conversation about what it means to lead in a time of complexity and contradiction. Will shares hard-earned wisdom from a career spent investing in and guiding mission-driven founders across the Mountain West. They explore...

What does it take to lead a high-performance team in a hybrid world where trust is fragile and expectations are sky-high? In this compelling conversation, Dr. Foster Mobley sits down with Sarah Broughton , award-winning architect and partner at Rowland+Broughton, to unpack how leadership is evolving—and what still remains essential. Known for her clear-eyed presence, candid perspective, and relent...

What does it take to lead in a world of constant change, mistrust in institutions, and rapidly shifting teams? Retired U.S. Army General James "Spider" Marks returns to Step Wise for Part 2 of his candid and hard-earned leadership wisdom. In this episode, Spider and host Dr. Foster Mobley dive into the challenges today’s leaders face—building trust with Gen Z, adapting to dynamic team en...

What does it really take to lead in today’s uncertain, high-stakes world? According to General James “Spider” Marks—a West Point grad, decorated U.S. Army intelligence leader, and former CNN national security analyst—it’s not titles or talk that define a leader. It’s behavior. In this powerful two-part conversation, Spider joins Dr. Foster Mobley on Step Wise to share hard-earned leadership truths...

What do spies, scientists, and great bosses have in common? Mike Mears, former CIA Chief of Human Capital and founder of the CIA Leadership Academy, joins Foster Mobley on Step Wise for a fascinating, story-filled conversation on what really makes people tick. With experience ranging from the military to General Electric to government intelligence, Mike shares actionable insights drawn from behavi...

Jeff Immelt, former CEO of GE and author of Hot Seat: What I Learned Leading a Great American Company , joins Foster for a wide-ranging conversation on modern leadership, generational change, and the power of perseverance. Jeff reflects on his years at the helm of GE, his transition into teaching and mentoring, and the values that shaped him through triumph and failure. From leading through econom...

Season 1 of Step Wise brought raw, revealing conversations with leaders across industries—and we’re just getting started. In this quick teaser, Dr. Foster Mobley reflects on the lessons, the listeners, and the magic of Season 1—and shares a sneak peek of the voices joining us for Season 2. From GE's Jeff Immelt to CIA's Mike Mears, from global strategists to soulful entrepreneurs, we’re...

After interviewing some of the most insightful leaders across industries, it’s time to turn the mic around. In this special episode of Step Wise , host Dr. Foster Mobley takes center stage as Jana Devan interviews him on the key lessons, themes, and personal takeaways from the first season. Foster reflects on conversations with top executives and leadership thinkers, including Janet Foutty, Valori...

In this insightful episode of Step Wise , Foster Mobley sits down with Jen Fisher, a trailblazer in workplace well-being and human sustainability. As Deloitte’s first Chief Wellbeing Officer and now its Human Sustainability Leader, Jen shares her inspiring journey, from creating a groundbreaking role to becoming a voice for the evolving future of work. Together, they dive into: 🌱 How organization...

Join Foster Mobley in a compelling conversation with Erin Rocchio, a managing partner at Evolution and founder of Wholeness at Work. Together, they dive into the evolving demands on leaders in today’s high-pressure environments, tackling issues like burnout, the integration of personal and professional well-being, and the shifting dynamics of leadership. Erin shares insights into how societal pres...

In this episode of Step Wise , Dr. Foster Mobley sits down with Anthony Stephan, Chief Learning Officer for Deloitte U.S., for a thought-provoking conversation on leadership, learning, and the future of workforce development. Anthony shares his inspiring journey at Deloitte, where he leads a talented team dedicated to advancing the skills of 173,000 professionals to stay ahead in an ever-changing...