Counsel Culture with Eric Brooker

My guest today is Lisa Conners — executive and leadership coach, keynote speaker, and the creator of a body of work called Generative Power and Generative Leadership . Lisa is also on her way to becoming an author, with her upcoming book Name Yourself exploring the power of creating and stepping into new identities. In this conversation, Lisa and I dig into what it means to lead generatively — con...

In this episode of Counsel Culture, Eric sits down with Kent Chevalier, Pittsburgh Steelers chaplain, keynote speaker, and author of the brand-new book Do It Afraid , for a conversation about courage, calling, and the faith it takes to jump before you can see the landing. Kent opens up about the pivotal decision he and his wife Erica made to walk away from two full-time jobs and step into one of t...

In this episode of Counsel Culture , Eric sits down with culture strategist, speaker, and author Nathan Schock for a wide-ranging conversation about culture, clarity, and why sustainable growth always starts with identity. Nathan reflects on a pivotal season in his life as a father of three adult daughters, sharing the gratitude and perspective that comes from walking through transition with his f...

In this episode of Counsel Culture , Eric sits down with executive coach, author, and former corporate leader Cory Carlson for a grounded conversation about leadership, burnout, and why success at work eventually collapses when life at home is neglected. Cory reflects on a recent personal loss that renewed his sense of urgency around intentional living and clarified his mission to help leaders win...

In this episode of Counsel Culture , Eric Brooker sits down for a deeply human conversation about hardship, presence, and what it really means to show up for others. The discussion moves from personal crisis to professional leadership, exploring how adversity reshapes identity, relationships, and perspective. Together, they examine why small moments matter more than we think, how teams and familie...

In this episode of Counsel Culture , Eric sits down with organizational health pioneer Patrick Lencioni for a rich, honest conversation about work, faith, family, and why leadership is far more about responsibility than reward. Pat shares how, at 59, he hit pause to confront long-buried wounds, and how that season of healing reshaped the way he leads, loves his family, and serves the people around...

This week on Counsel Culture , I sit down with Dr. Beth Kaplan, author of  Braving the Workplace, for an honest conversation about belonging, leadership, and what it really means to show up as yourself at work. We explore the tension many people feel between authenticity and fitting in, and why so many professionals silently trade pieces of who they are just to feel accepted. Dr. Kaplan shares pra...

In this episode of Counsel Culture, Eric sits down with national champion, former UNC head coach, and executive coach Matt Doherty for a candid conversation about leadership, culture, and the kind of personal transformation that only comes through adversity. From playing alongside Michael Jordan to being fired from his dream job at North Carolina, Matt opens up about identity, ego, and what it rea...

In this powerful episode of Counsel Culture , Eric sits down with former NFL athlete, author, and speaker Jacob Brown for a raw, vulnerable, and deeply inspiring conversation about redemption, resilience, and faith. From losing his NFL dream to rebuilding a life rooted in purpose, Jacob shares how failure became his fuel—and how being "laid off" can actually mean being launched . Together, Eric an...

Today on Counsel Culture , I'm joined by Laura King, executive recruiter, coach, and now published author, who has conducted more than 30,000 executive interviews. Laura has a rare vantage point on leadership and identity: why so many high performers pin their worth to a title, and what changes when we shift from "What do I do?" to "Who am I?" She helps leaders trade burnout for alignment by doing...

In today's episode of Counsel Culture , we welcome the incomparable Cassandra Worthy, a former corporate executive turned global keynote speaker and founder of Change Enthusiasm® Global . Cassandra brings unmatched energy as we talk about real change , real emotions , and the real work it takes to grow through adversity. From navigating multi-billion-dollar M&A activity to facing her own battle wi...

From Olympic hopeful to Paralympic silver medalist, keynote speaker, and servant leader, John Register brings more than a story of resilience. He brings a framework for transformation. In this episode, we explore: Why John doesn't believe in "overcoming" adversity and what he does instead The power of redefining your new normal as a launchpad, not a limitation His RE framework: Reckoning, Revision...

Welcome to The Counsel Culture Podcast, where we explore the heart of leadership and the power of personal growth. Today, we're diving into The Art of Self-Leadership with author and leadership expert Heather Younger. Heather shares the journey behind her latest book, emphasizing why self-leadership is the foundation for leading others. We'll discuss the role of gratitude, empowerment, and account...

What is up? Hey everyone, Eric Brooker here. I am your host and welcome to Counsel Culture. By now, you know what we are all about. For those of you that are new, this is THE culture and leadership podcast. Today, I am thrilled to welcome Sylvie Di Giusto to the show. Sylvie is an international keynote speaker, 13-time award winner, and author who has captivated audiences worldwide with her ground...

My guest today is none other than my friend Marques Ogden. Marques is a former NFL player turned inspirational speaker, author, and entrepreneur. He is the founder and CEO of Ogden Ventures LLC, a media and entertainment company that specializes in keynote speaking, business coaching, and consulting. Ogden is a three-time best-selling author and the host of the podcast "Get Authentic with Marques...

My guest today is an old personal friend and I am thrilled to introduce you to my guest, Meredith  Carder. Meredith is an ADHD coach, creator and writer. She holds a BS in psychology and MBA. As a true multi-passionate adult with ADHD, Meredith has gained varied experience over the last 20 years working in employee training and development as well as tackling several small businesses. Meredith pri...

On a mission to scale  positivity  and  happiness  in the workplace. ‍After successfully navigating the vibrant fields of fashion design, systems engineering, cloud engineering, cloud training, and team coaching, Antoni Tzavelas found his true vocation: igniting the spark of inspiration in others as a public speaker and leadership coach. With a focus on spreading the potent messages of happiness a...

My guest today is Johnny Vrba. On average, around 350,000 U.S. students, and nearly one million students worldwide, study abroad every year. Yet since its inception in 1963, only about 73,000 total students from over 1500 colleges and universities have participated in Semester at Sea. It is a truly unique, exclusive, and intimate experience, where students and faculty study, work, and travel to th...

One of my all time favorite guests is back….you originally were on episode 77, April 8, 2022! Melanie Sodka is a human behaviour enthusiast helping overwhelmed people who are over-committed and distracted. She's a podcaster and an international speaker who addresses Capacity Management. Through her structures and frameworks, she reveals how our addiction to distraction is literally breaking down o...

My guest today is a good personal friend of mine and culture guru, Jake Herway. I had the opportunity to meet Jake at The Purpose Summit a couple of years ago and am grateful for his friendship and mentorship Jake understands that your business needs more than a short-term fix; it requires a clear vision, a defined identity, and a cohesive team to succeed. As an accomplished culture and business a...

My guest today is none other than Mayor Joshua Hoyt! Over the past 25 years, he has developed a reputation for being a complex problem solver. As an elected Mayor and three-time entrepreneur, he successfully navigates the complexities of both the private and public sectors. His career is a testament to the principle that success requires multifaceted solutions. Motivated by this insight, he founde...

My guest today is author of a few good books including, How to work with almost anyone, How to Begin, The Advice Trap and the one we all know and love, The Coaching Habit, Say Less, Ask More & Change the Way You Lead Forever. Michael Bungay Stanier has a gift for distilling big, complex ideas into practical, accessible knowledge for everyday people that helps them be a force for good. His books ha...

Today, it is just me. There was a message that needed to get out into the world and I used my forum to get that message out. As a reminder, everyone is going through something. You Are Enough! This show is dedicated to your journey, this conversation is what we make it. This is Counsel Culture. As promised, www.ericbrooker.com | www.linkedin.com/in/ericbrooker   480.296.9777 call, text, send dad j...

My guest today is author of the new book; Breakproof 7 Strategies to Build Resilience and Achieve Your Life Goals . She is also a global keynote speaker and a world record holding mountaneer.   Jenn Drummond is more than a speaker, author and mountaneer; she is a catalyst for change. As a devoted mom of seven and a successful entrepreneur, her journey through a near-fatal car crash to the peaks of...

Douglas R. Conant is an internationally renowned business leader,  New York Times and Wall Street Journal  bestselling author, keynote speaker, and social media influencer with over 40 years of leadership experience at world-class global companies. For the past 20 years of his leadership journey, he has honed his leadership craft at the most senior levels—first as President of the Nabisco Foods Co...