The Energized Leader

What can you learn from ten incredible leaders in one podcast episode? A LOT! In Part 3 of my special celebration series, I’m sharing some of my favorite takeaways from episodes 28 through 37 of The Energized Leader Podcast. We’re talking about: ✅ Building trust and psychological safety ✅ Communicating with difficult or dysregulated people ✅ Developing resilience when you want to quit ✅ Creati...

The Energized Leader Podcast is celebrating 1,000 downloads! In Part 2 of this special three-part leadership series, host Desi Payne revisits powerful lessons from Episodes 14 through 27. You will discover practical strategies to improve productivity, protect your energy, strengthen workplace relationships, build resilience, and create a positive workplace culture.  Guests include:  Jones Loflin,...

The Energized Leader Podcast has officially reached 1,000 downloads! To celebrate this exciting milestone, host Desi Payne revisits the first 13 episodes and shares powerful leadership lessons from each guest. In Part 1 of this three-part celebration, discover practical insights from Chris Robinson, Logan Aguirre, Donna Isgett, Dr. Grenita Lathan, Dave Hirst, Dave Cameron, Tom Douglas, Richard Oll...

How can leaders motivate different personalities, build a stronger workplace culture, and stay organized when life and business feel overwhelming? In this episode of The Energized Leader Podcast, Desi Payne talks with entrepreneur, author, and speaker Dana Nuesca about the leadership lessons she learned while building a successful business with her husband. Dana shares an honest look at the challe...

What makes an energized leader? For Brad McCloskey, educational leader and incoming superintendent of Ottumwa Schools, it starts with relationships. In this episode of The Energized Leader Podcast, Desi Payne talks with Brad about the leadership lessons he has learned throughout more than two decades in education, from science teacher and coach to principal, associate superintendent, and superinte...

How do great leaders build cohesive teams, create psychological safety, and work effectively with difficult people? In this episode of The Energized Leader Podcast, Desi Payne talks with Tessa Kampen, facilitator and team engagement expert, about what it takes to create workplaces where people feel valued, understood, included, and energized. Tessa shares why strong teams begin with understanding...

What if the difficult person at work isn’t actually difficult, but dysregulated? In this episode of The Energized Leader Podcast, Desi Payne sits down with neuroscience expert and speaker Vanessa McNeal to explore how understanding the brain and nervous system can transform workplace relationships, reduce conflict, and help leaders create healthier, more energized teams. Vanessa shares practical s...

What does it take to transform unimaginable adversity into determination, purpose, and success? In this inspiring episode of The Energized Leader Podcast, Desi Payne sits down with Mensur Pudic, a Bosnian American motivational speaker, personal development coach, award-winning author, natural bodybuilder, and powerlifter. Mensur shares his powerful journey from experiencing war and genocide as a y...

What separates memorable leaders from forgettable ones? In this episode of The Energized Leader Podcast, Desi Payne talks with author, leadership expert, and professional illusionist Ken Hartley about the leadership illusions that can prevent people from building trust, communicating effectively, and creating a meaningful legacy. Ken shares powerful insights from his book Leadership Illusions, inc...

In this inspiring episode of The Energized Leader Podcast, Desi Payne sits down with Holly Hoffman, former Survivor Nicaragua contestant, motivational speaker, and author, to talk about resilience, mindset, courage, and what it really takes to survive life’s toughest challenges. Holly shares what it was like to be dropped into the jungle with little food, constant rain, snakes, rats, howler monkey...

What does it take to transform a school district, rebuild employee morale, and create a culture where students and staff feel valued? In this inspiring episode of The Energized Leader Podcast, Desi Payne sits down with Mike McGrory on his final day as Superintendent of the Ottumwa Community School District. Mike reflects on his leadership journey, the lessons he learned throughout his career, and...

In this inspiring episode of the Energized Leader Podcast, Desi Payne sits down with Eddie Slowikowski, a peak performance expert, professional speaker, former elite runner, and author of The Four Minute Formula. Eddie shares his powerful journey from chasing an Olympic dream to becoming a full time speaker for more than 30 years. Eddie opens up about breaking the four minute mile, winning a gold...

In this energizing episode, Desi Payne welcomes Christine Trippi, known as The Wise Pineapple, hospitality expert, speaker, author of Yes Is the Answer, and creator of powerful customer service strategies that help leaders and teams create unforgettable experiences. Christine shares how she began her hotel career at just 17 years old and grew into leadership by learning the power of hospitality, p...

In this energizing episode, Desi Payne sits down with leadership expert Antoinette Griffin to explore how understanding your natural communication and energy style can make you a more effective leader. Together, they discuss the differences between introverts, extroverts, ambiverts, omniverts, and attroverts, and why self-awareness is essential for building stronger relationships, increasing influ...

In this inspiring episode, Desi Payne sits down with Dave Kauffman, international relationship speaker, Master DISC trainer, entrepreneur, business coach, business owner, and pilot, to talk about how leaders can create stronger relationships, healthier workplace cultures, and more energized teams. Dave shares his journey from Amish Mennonite farm boy to successful business owner and leadership coa...

In this energizing episode of The Energized Leader Podcast, Desi Payne sits down with leadership speaker and psychological safety expert Tania DeSa to explore how leaders can create a workplace culture where people feel seen, heard, valued, and safe to speak up. Tania shares powerful insights on psychological safety, connection, leadership vulnerability, recognition, micro moments of trust, and th...

In this energizing episode of The Energized Leader Podcast, Desi Payne sits down with Dr. Jeff Hendred, longtime educator, former principal, community leader, assistant pastor, business owner, and Dean of the Legacy Tumwater Leadership Academy, for a powerful conversation on what it truly means to be an energized leader. Dr. Hendred shares practical leadership lessons on influence, passion, positi...

In this powerful and inspiring episode of The Energized Leader Podcast, Desi Payne sits down with Jason Dennen, a speaker, leader, and survivor whose story will leave you believing that the impossible can be overcome. Jason shares the incredible story of a skydiving accident that changed his life in an instant when a sudden wind gust slammed him into a fence and the side of an airplane hangar at 3...

What does it really take to be an energized leader in today’s fast-paced world? In this inspiring episode of The Energized Leader Podcast, Desi Payne sits down with speaker, coach, and former senior vice president Lynsey Mulder to talk about authentic leadership, burnout recovery, team motivation, leadership communication, and how to lead with more spark, purpose, and alignment. Lynsey shares powe...

In this powerful episode of The Energized Leader Podcast, Desi Payne interviews entrepreneur, speaker, and resilience expert Dr. Marie Cosgrove for an unforgettable conversation about faith, leadership, perseverance, and overcoming impossible odds. Dr. Cosgrove shares her extraordinary story of rising above trauma, sexism in a male-dominated industry, personal hardship, wrongful treatment, and int...

In this episode of The Energized Leader Podcast, Desi Payne sits down with David Bossou for a powerful conversation on leadership communication, workplace connection, employee engagement, and valuing people. What begins as an interview quickly becomes an energizing co-host conversation filled with practical leadership insight, memorable stories, and real strategies for building a stronger workplac...

In this episode of The Energized Leader Podcast, Desi Payne sits down with leadership coach and community leader Hollie Tometich for a powerful conversation about authentic leadership, energized workplace culture, professional development, coaching, humor in leadership, and how leaders can recharge during tough seasons. Drawing from years of leadership experience in healthcare and community develo...

In this inspiring episode of The Energized Leader Podcast, Desi Payne interviews speaker, coach, and American Ninja Warrior finalist Hoan Do about leadership, resilience, mindset, and the power of personal growth.  Hoan shares how one life-changing speaker inspired his path, how he went on to work with Tony Robbins, and how he built a speaking career focused on helping people unlock their potentia...

In this powerful episode of The Energized Leader Podcast, Desi Payne sits down with bestselling author and inspirational speaker John O’Leary to talk about his extraordinary true story of survival, resilience, faith, and purpose. John shares the moving story behind the new film Soul on Fire, now reaching even wider audiences, and reflects on how a tragic childhood burn accident became the beginnin...

In this special episode of The Energized Leader Podcast, Desi Payne steps out from behind the microphone and into the guest seat as Garrett Ross interviews her about the life experiences that shaped her leadership message, resilience, and passion for helping people beat burnout, stay positive, and make their current job their dream job. Desi shares her powerful personal story, from growing up in a...