Learning the Hard Way the Easy Way

Leadership lives or dies in how other people experience you. This conversation between Brandon Mergard and Alex Culley reframes leadership as a social process, where one recurring behavior can quietly erode trust and frustrate teams. The key shift is moving from abstract self-improvement to actively understanding the “rubric” others use to judge your effectiveness and then working with it, not gue...

What if the hardest parts of your story became your competitive edge? Eight-time swing world champion and six-time country world champion Robert Royston joins us to unpack how poverty, instability, and abuse became the forge for world-class craft, leadership, and perspective. Robert doesn’t romanticize pain; he names it, learns from it, and translates it into a system anyone can use. Robert shares...

This episode explores how life-altering moments can fundamentally reshape our definition of success, work, and legacy. After losing his mother, globally recognized people leader Alex Seiler confronted the illusion of unlimited time and re-evaluated goals that no longer fit who he had become. Grief became a clarifying force, prompting deeper questions about identity, purpose, and what it truly mean...

Success rarely follows a straight line, and this episode leans into that truth. Srikar Bhagavatula shares how lofty goals, self-doubt, and the pressure of "should" can quietly paralyze us, especially when we compare our messy, nonlinear paths to the curated success stories of our peers. From research that refuses to give clear answers to careers that detour far from the original plan, Sr...

Have you ever realized that parenting is the ultimate leadership training ground? In this deeply honest episode, Jon and Danielle Mackin invite listeners into a raw conversation about family, faith, and the lessons they keep learning.  They admit that nothing exposes your blind spots faster than raising kids. As Danielle jokes, “I was the best parent until I became a parent.” The two reflect on ho...

The line between innovation and disruption often comes down to one thing: communication. Rich Davis, who spent 40 years at United Airlines, learned this early in his career, especially during the most challenging times in aviation security. Starting as a reservation agent, Davis identified an inefficiency: temporary reservations that should have automatically canceled remained in the system, block...

Have you ever lost your cool at exactly the wrong moment? That spark of frustration that flares into a career-limiting outburst? Executive communication coach Laurie Schloff knows this struggle intimately, despite being a master at helping others communicate effectively. In this refreshingly candid conversation, Laurie reveals her ongoing journey to maintain composure when emotions run high. She s...

When was the last time you confronted what you don’t know? For Chuck Johnson, serial entrepreneur, technologist, and leadership coach, this question has shaped his journey through multiple successful startups. From software engineer to founder, Chuck learned that understanding your limitations is just as important as knowing your strengths. "I needed to learn what other skills are crucial for...

What happens when your career trajectory gets derailed by an unexpected firing? For Caitlin Shea, Vice President of Development for Discovery Children's Museum, that moment of professional crisis became the foundation for authentic leadership and personal transformation.   This candid conversation goes beyond typical career advice to explore the rarely discussed aftermath of professional fail...

What if every failure you encountered was actually a stepping stone towards success? In this episode of "Learning the Hard Way, the Easy Way," Carlos Marin, international leadership consultant and executive coach, joins Alex to share his philosophy on the relationship between failure and success. Carlos talks about learning from his own failures and how he translates them to his work men...

Ever encountered a situation where you felt out of place because of systemic biases? Join Alex for a profound conversation with CB Bowman-Ottomanelli, a master executive coach, who shares her eye-opening experiences with corporate racism. Raised in a diverse and inclusive environment, CB was blindsided by the harsh reality of racial discrimination when she stepped into the corporate world. Through...

Is there a secret to discovering our passion? Listen to Alex's conversation with Ernesto Mandowsky, the brain behind the Million Dollar Machine, who shares his incredible journey from the world of hospitality technology to entrepreneurship. Discover how Ernesto’s book, “NewBee,” helped him discover his true passion and better appreciate the experiences along the way. His unique perspective fo...

Join us on this episode of Learning the Hard Way the Easy Way, for a conversation with leadership coach and best-selling author, Rick Torrison. Rick's journey to break free from his limiting beliefs and embrace his authentic self will inspire you to question the "normal" in your own life. Rick and Alex dig into the cultural and generational influences that shape mental health and pe...

Do you ever feel like you have to do it all on your own? Entrepreneur, author, and philanthropist Markus Kaulius joins Alex in an inspiring discussion to shatter the myth of solo success and share how he learned to lean on others in this episode of Learning the Hard Way the Easy Way. Even if we know the 'lone wolf' mentality doesn't work, we don't always know where to turn to f...

When the reins of control slip from our grasp, it's a startling revelation that can make or break a leader. James Kaikis, a tech entrepreneur, founder, and Chief Solutions Officer sits down with Alex to share his personal evolution from a micromanager to an empowering leader in the latest episode of Learning the Hard Way the Easy Way. James opens up about critical moments that reshaped his ma...

Join Alex Culley in an impactful episode of "Learning the Hard Way the Easy Way," as he sits down with Dr. David L. Schreiner, President and CEO of Katherine Shaw Bethea Hospital in Dixon, Illinois, and author of the bestselling book, “Be the Best Part of their Day – Supercharged Communication with Values-Driven Leadership.” Dr. Schreiner shares a profound lesson he learned the hard way:...

In this episode of "Learning the Hard Way the Easy Way," host Alex engages in a compelling conversation with Dr. Ellen Leggett, an applied psychologist and pioneering trial consultant with over 35 years of experience in the field. Dr. Leggett shares a profound lesson she learned the hard way: not allowing fear to hinder personal and professional growth.   Drawing from her rich background...

Join host Alex in an enlightening conversation with Jim Kouzes, a world-renowned author, decorated educator, and influential thought leader in the field of leadership. With a career spanning over 50 years, Jim has amassed a wealth of knowledge and experience, which he shares in this episode of "Learning the Hard Way the Easy Way." Jim shares two key lessons he learned the hard way: the i...

During this episode of "Learning the Hard Way the Easy Way," host Alex sits down with the dynamic Dan Braker, President and Founder of Breakthrough Research, a Los Angeles-based market research firm. Dan brings over 25 years of experience in market research and consumer insights to the conversation, sharing his invaluable take on the indispensable role of a strong team and organizational...

Welcome to another insightful episode of "Learning the Hard Way the Easy Way"! Join your host Alex Culley in a thought-provoking conversation with two exceptional guests—internationally acclaimed author and leadership pioneer, Ken Blanchard, and trust expert Randy Conley, who share insights from their lives and their new co-authored book, "Simple Truths of Leadership Playbook: A 52-...

Join Alex in a compelling conversation with Dr. Jamie Pennebaker, an internationally acclaimed social psychologist and esteemed Professor Emeritus of Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Pennebaker is a pioneering figure in education and behavioral psychology who is renowned for his extensive work on the intricate relationship between language, health, and social behavior. With a d...

Dr. Marshall Goldsmith  is among the world’s foremost experts on leadership, a renowned executive coach, thought leader, and New York Times bestselling author. Marshall has been rated the world’s #1 executive coach many times over, with his clients including over 200 of the world’s most highly regarded CEOs. He is a member of the Thinkers50 Hall of Fame and the only two-time Thinkers50 #1 Leadersh...

Alex Velto is an attorney at Reno, NV-based law firm Hutchison & Steffen Attorneys where he represents unions in collective bargaining, businesses in litigation matters, and individuals in pro bono civil rights cases. He was appointed by the Mayor of Reno, NV as a Planning Commissioner for the city and serves as a Governor on the Nevada Bar Board, as well as being a Board member for the Nevada...

Tianna Winters is the Founder of TW Media, a full-service consulting firm specializing in brand strategy, social media management, content creation, and email marketing with clients across the country that include politicians, restaurants, and manufacturers. She brings over a decade of experience as a social media expert, marketing guru, and writer and is well known for creating trusted partnershi...

Calvin Ng is a Senior Director for Talent and Organizational Development with Farmer Brothers Company. He has spent over 20 years as a Talent, Learning, and Organizational Development professional at public and private organizations across the country like Mars Inc., Pernod Ricard North America, King’s Hawaiian, and USC Auxiliary Services. Calvin specializes in developing leadership capabilities f...