The Charismatic Leader

Welcome to the Charismatic Leader Podcast. In this episode, Brett McDermott sits down with Alain Hunkins , leadership expert and author who has spent nearly three decades inside companies like Microsoft and Marriott. Alain reveals why the very skills that get you promoted often become the ones that hold you back—and how leaders must shift from “doing” to truly leading. Together, Brett and Alain ex...

Welcome to the Charismatic Leader Podcast. In this episode, Brett McDermott sits down with Lyndsay Dowd , who spent 23 years climbing the ranks at IBM before turning a career collapse into two best‑selling books, a top 2.5% global podcast, and a worldwide speaking brand. Lyndsay shows us what reinvention really looks like—and how leaders can do it too. Together, Brett and Lyndsay explore why cultu...

Welcome to the Charismatic Leader Podcast. In this episode, Brett McDermott breaks down why charisma isn’t just charm or confidence—it’s also warmth. Warmth is the quality that makes people trust you before they even know why, and it’s half of the charisma equation. Brett shares three practical strategies leaders can use immediately to project more warmth in their communication: presence, curiosit...

Welcome to the Charismatic Leader Podcast. In this episode, Brett McDermott sits down with Dr. Tracy Christopherson and Michelle Troseth , co-hosts of the Burnout Proof Leadership Podcast . Together, they reveal why the secret to avoiding burnout isn’t doing more—it’s how you open and close your day. Brett, Tracy, and Michelle explore the concept of polarity intelligence —the ability to balance se...

Welcome to the Charismatic Leader Podcast. In this episode, Brett McDermott sits down with Vaso Vardaki , leadership advisor with degrees in speech therapy, human communication, and business, who has spent two decades leading teams inside multinational companies. Vaso reveals why most leadership teams are silently failing—and the framework she uses to fix them. Together, Brett and Vaso explore the...

Welcome to the Charismatic Leader Podcast. In this episode, Brett McDermott sits down with Karen Laos , known as the Confidence Cultivator, who has spent 25 years advising C‑suite leaders and speaking on the world’s biggest stages. Karen reveals why the most expensive habit in leadership is staying quiet—and how the courage to ask for what you want changes everything. Together, Brett and Karen exp...

Welcome to the Charismatic Leader Podcast. In this episode, Brett McDermott sits down with Erik Dominguez , communication coach and speaker with over 25 years of experience helping leaders transform fear into fuel. Erik breaks down why confidence isn’t something you’re born with—it’s a skill you can build, test, and strengthen every single day. Together, Brett and Erik explore how confidence and c...

Welcome to the Charismatic Leader Podcast. In this episode, Brett McDermott sits down with Tracy Goodwin , the world’s leading voice identity expert and founder of Captivate the Room . Tracy reveals how your voice communicates far more than your words—and why your audience believes the voice every single time. Together, Brett and Tracy unpack the psychology of the voice, exploring the seven layers...

Welcome to the Charismatic Leader Podcast. In this episode, Brett McDermott sits down with Monique Russell , executive coach, communication expert, and founder of Clear Communication Solutions . Monique has helped leaders at the CDC, Verizon, Intel, and beyond show up and communicate with real impact. Together, Brett and Monique explore why self‑awareness is the true foundation of charisma and exe...

Welcome to the Charismatic Leader Podcast. In this episode, Brett McDermott sits down with Kate Waterfall Hill , executive coach, leadership expert, and creator of the viral character Linda the Bad Manager . Kate breaks down why getting promoted is one of the most dangerous transitions for leaders—and what to do about it. Together, Brett and Kate explore the common pitfalls of accidental managers,...

Welcome to the Charismatic Leader Podcast. In this episode, Brett McDermott sits down with Vanessa Cuddeford , strategic communications advisor and speaker coach, who spent years as a TV news anchor for global broadcasters including BBC and NBC. Vanessa knows firsthand what it takes to connect with people, and today she shares how leaders can master the art of making others feel truly seen, heard,...

Welcome to the Charismatic Leader Podcast. In this episode, Brett McDermott sits down with Chaz Wolfe , serial entrepreneur and founder of Gathering the Kings , who built and sold multiple seven‑figure businesses. Together, Brett and Chaz break down how leaders can defeat daily resistance before 9 a.m. using affirmations, visualization, and radical accountability. Chaz shares how identity‑driven r...

Welcome to the Charismatic Leader Podcast. Today we sit down with Brett McDermott along with Kate Perkovic , 7-figure founder, CEO of KLMP Consulting, and a force behind empowering women into high-power earners. From her early days as a server to leading a thriving consulting business, Kate walks us through the mindset shifts, routines, and retention-first strategies that redefined her path to suc...

Welcome to the Charismatic Leader Podcast. In this episode, Brett McDermott sits down with Zoe Fragou , leadership coach and psychologist, to explore why most leaders don’t suffer from strategy problems—they suffer from clarity problems. Zoe helps executives cut through the noise, align their teams, and make decisions with precision and confidence. Together, Brett and Zoe break down how unclear le...

Welcome to the Charismatic Leader Podcast. In this episode, Brett McDermott breaks down the three simplest, most practical techniques you can use immediately to project confidence in any conversation, meeting, or presentation. Too often, leaders find themselves overlooked or talked over—not because they lack ideas, but because they don’t project their presence with authority. Brett shares actionab...

Welcome to the Charismatic Leader Podcast. Brett McDermott breaks down a game-changing truth: confidence isn’t a personality trait—it’s a loop you can trigger on demand. In this episode, Brett reveals how physiology, self-talk, and behavior form a feedback system that creates unshakable presence. He shares practical resets and scripts you can use before any meeting, pitch, or presentation to step...

Welcome back to The Charismatic Leader Podcast. Brett McDermott takes us beneath the surface of techniques and behaviors to explore the foundation of true influence—the charismatic mindset. In this episode, Brett reveals why charisma doesn’t start when you walk into the room—it starts in your mind. He breaks down three pillars that shape how leaders project presence, confidence, and connection: in...

Welcome to the Charismatic Leader Podcast. In this episode, Brett McDermott sits down with John Bowe , acclaimed author, journalist, and communication expert, to explore how the timeless wisdom of Aristotle can transform the way we speak and lead today. John shares his unlikely journey from investigative journalism to studying public speaking, sparked by a family story that revealed the life‑chang...

Welcome to the Charismatic Leader Podcast. In this episode, Brett McDermott sits down with Dr. Matt Paden , president of Great Days Leadership and author of The Core: Eight Principles for Building Strong Authentic Leadership . Matt brings decades of experience helping leaders and organizations move from where they are to where they need to be by focusing on authenticity, influence, and value creat...

Welcome to the Charismatic Leader Podcast. In this episode, Brett McDermott sits down with Mike Robbins , acclaimed author, speaker, and expert on emotional intelligence and workplace culture. Mike has spent decades helping leaders and teams build trust, connection, and resilience through authenticity and appreciation. Together, Brett and Mike explore the critical difference between recognition (p...

Welcome to the Charismatic Leader Podcast. In this episode, Brett McDermott sits down with Ron Tite , founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Church+State , one of Canada’s fastest‑growing agencies helping brands navigate the intersection of advertising and authentic content. Ron is also a globally recognized keynote speaker known for his sharp insights on leadership, creativity, and communication....

Welcome to the Charismatic Leader Podcast. In this episode, Brett McDermott challenges the myth that charisma is something you’re born with. Instead, he reveals why charisma is a skill—a muscle—that grows stronger through repetition, not performance. And the best training ground isn’t the stage or the boardroom, but the ordinary interactions you have every single day. Brett walks through practical...

Welcome to the Charismatic Leader Podcast. In this episode, Brett McDermott explores why presence—not performance—is the most underrated form of charisma. People don’t remember every word you say, but they never forget how it felt to be around you. And nothing creates trust, connection, and influence more than making others feel fully seen. Brett breaks down why availability is the true signal of...

Welcome to the Charismatic Leader Podcast. In this episode, Brett McDermott sits down with Sarah Elkins , workplace storytelling expert, Gallup‑certified StrengthsFinder coach, and author of Your Stories Don’t Define You, How You Tell Them Will . Sarah has spent years helping executives, teams, and professionals harness the power of story to build trust, connection, and influence. Together, Brett...

Welcome to the Charismatic Leader Podcast. In this episode, Brett McDermott sits down with Robin Dreeke , former head of the FBI’s Counterintelligence Behavioral Analysis Program. With decades of experience understanding, predicting, and influencing human behavior in high‑stakes environments involving spies, criminals, and hostile actors, Robin brings unparalleled insight into the mechanics of tru...