Badass Leaders Podcast: Leadership, Career Growth, and Company Culture

About This Episode  Season 1 of the Badass Leaders Podcast comes to a close with a heartfelt wrap-up episode from host Angela Gill Nelms. After nearly 50 episodes exploring leadership, grit, and bold action, Angela reflects on the season, thanks listeners for their support, and shares what's next. In this episode, you'll hear about: The lessons learned from a year of interviewing extraordinary lea...

This episode dives into the real, often unspoken emotional terrain of caregiving, leadership burnout, and reclaiming joy at work through the power of play. Angela sits down with Corean Canty, a former media and advertising COO turned executive coach, TEDx speaker coach, and co-founder of Shift to Play. Together, they unpack how anticipatory grief affects caregivers, why so many leaders lose their...

In this episode of the Badass Leaders Podcast, journalist and author Kate Rope shares the untold story behind her career, her mission to help us all feel strong as humans, and the personal experiences that shaped her bestselling books Strong as a Mother and the forthcoming Strong as a Girl. Kate opens up about what she learned from investigating sexual harassment cases, supporting women and girls...

Real Stories, Real Leadership: Georgia Tech Alumni This episode features a deep, surprisingly personal conversation with two Georgia Tech powerhouses whose careers span biomedical engineering, venture investing, university leadership, and global innovation. They unpack what it looks like to build teams that solve real-world problems, how diversity fuels breakthrough ideas, and why Georgia Tech bec...

Edward "Bean" Morgan joins the Badass Leaders Podcast for a candid conversation about leadership, burnout, and what it takes to walk away from a career that no longer aligns with your values. After decades in the restaurant and hospitality industry, working 80 to 90 hours a week with little recognition, Ed made a dramatic pivot into beekeeping. Today he manages more than 100 hives across Atlanta,...

In this episode, Dr. John Tuders breaks down what it truly means to lead with courage, clarity, and integrity in a world that often rewards shortcuts. He shares the lessons that shaped him, from growing up in Queens to becoming a professor and trusted voice in leadership. You'll hear real stories, practical insights, and a grounded perspective on trust, culture, conflict, and personal growth. If y...

In this episode of Badass Leaders, Raheem Beyah, Georgia Tech's Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs joins Angela to talk about innovation, mentorship, and the evolution of leadership in higher education. Born and raised in Atlanta, Raheem shares how his grandmother's biscuits and a childhood love of video games first sparked his curiosity for technology—and how that curiosity...

What does it really mean to leave a legacy? In this Badass Leaders Podcast "Best Of" episode, we bring together powerful insights from leaders who are redefining what impact looks like. Together, these guests offer perspectives that challenge traditional ideas of success and invite us to think bigger about purpose, service, and the mark we leave behind. If you're ready to build something that last...

How Trauma, Mindset, and Leadership Intersect: A Powerful Conversation with Suzy Wraines and Angela Gill Nelms What happens when a military veteran, healthcare professional, and entrepreneur sits down with a leadership expert to unpack the truth about resilience, trauma, and purpose? In this powerful conversation, Angela Gill Nelms and Suzy Wraines dive deep into the real-life journey of healing,...

In 2010, Brian Rowe was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for a nonviolent drug conspiracy. Most people would have seen that as the end. Brian saw it as a turning point. In this episode, he shares how he transformed pain into purpose, turned crisis into opportunity, and rebuilt his life to become a business catalyst, AWS Partner, and community leader. Brian’s story is a masterclass in resili...

In this thought-provoking conversation, Angela Gill Nelms sits down with Dr. Nasir Mokarram to explore what it takes to translate groundbreaking science into real-world solutions. From developing a tumor-guiding medical device for brain cancer (GBM) to shaping the future of venture investments at Emory University, Dr. Mokarram shares his journey from researcher to entrepreneur to investor—and the...

What happens when a high-achieving biopharma executive steps off the corporate ladder to build a life driven by freedom, impact, and authenticity? In this episode, Angela Gill Nelms sits down with Dr. Aimee Christian—communications strategist, professor, and nonprofit CEO—for a candid conversation about career reinvention, leadership courage, burnout recovery, and designing a purpose-filled portfo...

In this episode of the Badass Leaders Podcast, we dive deep into the critical differences between managers and leaders. Our guests explore how authentic leadership is about influence, empathy, and empowering people, while management often focuses on processes, outcomes, and tasks. Whether you're climbing the corporate ladder, running a team, or building your own organization, this conversation wil...

Why do so many high performers still feel like frauds even when they’re crushing it? In this powerful episode of The Badass Leaders Podcast, Angela Gill Nelms sits down with Self Worth Sam Osborne  @selfworthsam   and attorney-turned-coach David Graf for a raw, funny, and deeply clarifying conversation about imposter syndrome, values, self-worth, burnout, conflict, and modern leadership. Sam share...

If you’ve ever wished leaders would stop acting like robots and start acting like humans, this episode is your new masterclass. Leadership advisor, entrepreneur, and board director Jonathan Bennett joins Angela to unpack the real skills great leaders rely on: conflict resolution, culture-building, deep listening, emotional intelligence, and how to actually show up as a human in the room — even whe...

Where Grit Meets Grace: Trauma, Leadership & Reinvention | Live at STRIPES with Dr. Crystal Simon What happens when two women in the medtech industry sit down to discuss trauma, leadership, reinvention, and the harsh reality of career transitions? In this live STRIPES conversation, Dr. Crystal Simon interviews Angela Gill Nelms about the stories behind her grit, the grace that helped her heal,...

Change isn’t on the horizon — it’s here, it’s loud, and if you’re leading a team, you’re feeling the waves. In this episode of Badass Leaders, Angela Gill Nelms walks you through six essential leadership keys to help you steer through turbulence with clarity, empathy, and resilience. You'll discover how to: - Set the right pace so your team isn't overwhelmed or lost - Create the anchor of routine...

What does it take to go from practicing law to leading companies through $800M acquisitions? In this episode of Badass Leaders, Lynn Herrick shares her unconventional path from attorney to COO, the hard-won lessons she learned scaling GreatCall to its Best Buy exit, and why culture—not strategy—saves companies.  We dig into how she transformed high-turnover call centers into thriving “caring cente...

This is not a typical episode of the Badass Leaders Podcast. Today, it’s just me — Angela Gill Nelms — sharing a story I never thought I’d tell publicly. This year marks two milestones: 50 years alive — and 5 years free. Five years since I escaped a kidnapping that nearly ended my life. Five years of rebuilding, healing, reclaiming my voice, and redefining what leadership truly means when you’ve h...

In this candid and energetic conversation, Daniel Steere ( @steeringventures ) unpacks what it really takes to “make work not suck.” From reframing “BS jobs” to uncovering dignity in every role, Daniel shares his Vision–Journey–Culture–Results framework and challenges leaders to think beyond quick wins. We dig into why purpose matters more than process, the hidden dangers of “hero culture,” and ho...

From the streets of Savannah to the boardrooms of European hospitals, Dr. Beth Harrison’s life is a masterclass in resilience and bold leadership. In this powerful episode, she shares her journey of growing up adopted in a conservative Southern home, later discovering the truth about her birth, and turning life’s challenges into unstoppable momentum. Dr. Harrison reveals how sailing and game theor...

What if mastering conflict could bring you more freedom, not friction? In this episode, Angela sits down with Karen Valencic—engineer, Aikido black belt, and author of Spiral Impact: The Power to Get It Done with Grace—to talk about why most of us misunderstand conflict and how to flip it into connection. Karen unpacks the difference between force and power, shares why confrontation is rarely the...

Gamification expert Caitlin Johnson joins Angela Gill Nelms to unpack how leaders can transform their work, careers, and teams using game design thinking. From leveling up your career to designing systems that make hard things fun, Caitlin shares tactical strategies and hard-earned wisdom from her work coaching tens of thousands of leaders. They dig into motivation, breaking out of comfort zones,...

- Ferrari Racing, Accenture & Global Leadership | Bud Moeller How do you earn followers, not just employees? In this episode of The Badass Leaders Podcast, Angela Gill Nelms sits down with Bud Moeller—Georgia Tech Hall of Fame alum, former Booz Allen & Accenture partner, global transformation consultant, semi-pro Ferrari race car driver, jet pilot, and certified sommelier. They dig into ho...

How a fighter pilot helped BP slash safety incidents by 70%—Andrew Dingee on systems, leadership, and learning from failure. Andrew Dingee, former fighter pilot and BP executive, joins Angela Gill Nelms to share how aviation safety principles—like checklists, debriefs, and human factors thinking—can transform corporate culture. They discuss building systems that learn from mistakes, the role of le...