SPEAK LIKE A CEO

Want your idea to spread like wildfire? Do you want to move your audience to action? There is a way to achieve this. This week, Oliver is joined by John Yorke, a world-renowned storytelling expert and former head of BBC Drama, to unravel the secrets of compelling narratives. John wrote the OG of storytelling books: "Into the Woods: How Stories Work and Why We Tell Them" and became the storyteller’...

Are you really listening? Or just waiting to talk? Most leaders overestimate their listening skills. To understand why and how you can become a 10 out of 10 listener, Oliver is joined by Oscar Trimboli. Oscar is a globally-recognized listening expert and the author of How to Listen who will shatter your assumptions about hearing and connection. Discover how deep listening can revolutionize your co...

Oliver Aust speaks with Dr. Oliver Degnan about a critical issue: burnout. It's not just stress, it's much more dangerous. Dr. Degnan challenges common misconceptions about burnout and lays bare the self-inflicted wounds that lead to the brink. He explores the crucial difference between stress and burnout, how a breakdown in trust fuels it, why it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy, the power of p...

Why is it so hard to disagree without falling out? And how can we get better at managing disagreements? To find out, Oliver speaks to Julia Minson, Associate Professor of Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School. They explore the crucial skill of productive disagreement in life and at work. Discover why smart people struggle with disagreements, the biggest mistakes we make in tough conversations, a...

Distractions are everywhere. But how do you regain focus and control in an age of constant interruptions? This week, Oliver speaks with Nir Eyal, the internationally acclaimed behavioral designer, bestselling author of Hooked and Indistractable, and former Stanford Lecturer. He explains that distraction isn't just about external triggers but often stems from a desire to escape discomfort. Discover...

What if I told you there's a secret weapon that can transform your leadership, boost team morale, and create a culture of peak performance? In this episode, Oliver Aust sits down with Professor Michael Norton, a renowned psychologist at HBS and author of The Ritual Effect: The Transformative Power of Our Everyday Actions. Professor Norton's research reveals the surprising impact of rituals – those...

No success without trust. But how do you build trust when trust in leadership is at an all-time low? Natalie Doyle Oldfield is a globally recognized expert on trust and author of Trusted: The Proven Path to Customer Loyalty and Business Growth. She explains how trust is often formed subconsciously as the first thing in an interaction between humans. People decide whether to trust you based on gut...

What if everything we experience is shaped by the stories we tell ourselves? In this episode, Oliver sits down with one of his intellectual heroes. Will Storr, bestselling author of The Science of Storytelling, The Status Game and now A Story is a Deal to explore how stories define our reality, shape our decisions, and influence human behavior. Will explains why humans live in two worlds, the worl...

Is going viral just luck, or is there a science behind it? In this episode, Oliver Aust sits down with Brendan Kane, digital strategist, bestselling author, and the mastermind behind some of the biggest social media success stories. Brendan has helped global brands, top celebrities like Taylor Swift and Rihanna, and countless businesses achieve explosive digital growth. Brendan reveals the secrets...

Is it possible to write so that even busy CEOs respond? Yes, it is. If you know how.  On this week’s episode of Speak Like a CEO, Oliver sits down with Harvard professor Todd Rogers, co-author of Writing for Busy Readers, to uncover why most messages fail – and how to fix them. Todd is a behavioral scientist who has spent years studying how people read (or rather, don’t read). His research-backed...

Peter Sorgenfrei is the leadership coach you want to have at your side. As a six-time CEO and founder, he understands the challenges and the overwhelm experienced by anyone who is unapologetically ambitious.  But he also learned the hard way that you have to listen to your body and mind to be successful and, more importantly, to keep your sanity. In this episode, he takes us inside his journey as...

You build your life and career one conversation at a time. But how can we be authentic and impactful while connecting with others? To find out, Oliver sits down with Dr. Alison Wood Brooks, celebrated behavioral scientist, Harvard professor, and author of Talk: The Science of Conversation and the Art of Being Ourselves.  Together, they unpack the science behind effective communication and how unde...

Matthew Dicks, bestselling author of Storyworthy and Stories Sell reveals how stories captivate, connect, and inspire.  The key isn’t a list of events but a moment of transformation – without change, it’s just a report.  Matthew’s journey to globally-recognized expert began with a surprise win at The Moth storytelling competition, but it wasn’t luck.  His years as a writer, teacher, and even weddi...

Scott Walker is one of the world’s foremost experts on negotiation. When hostage situations, kidnappings, or cyber attacks put lives and livelihoods at stake, Scott is the crisis negotiator called in to resolve the chaos. Having successfully negotiated over 300 high-stakes incidents, Scott shares the field-proven principles from his best-selling book "Order Out of Chaos" - hailed as "A Masterclass...

What are the critical skills that define leadership today? With over 20 years of experience advising top global executives, Oliver explains why communication is the #1 skill for success, how to build an irresistible personal brand, and strategies for overcoming communication challenges in a world increasingly shaped by remote work and AI. Discover why Richard Branson’s personal brand outshines his...

Want to build a thriving community but not sure where to start? Daisy Morris, founder of The Selfhood and author of Community Is Your Currency developed the framework for you.   Oliver and Daisy dive into the essential difference between an audience and a community, and what both individuals and companies often get wrong about community building.  Daisy shares her 10 powerful steps to creating a t...

With more than 10m books sold, John Strelecky is one of the most successful and inspirational authors of our time.  His first book, "The Café on the Edge of the World," gained international acclaim and has been translated into over 40 languages, selling millions of copies.  John has written extensively about leadership and is the creator of the "Big Five for Life" concept that inspires leaders and...

What if we challenged traditional notions of success and leadership? In this episode, Oliver Aust sits down with Gigi Danzinger, a philanthropist and social entrepreneur who, at 60, changed her name to reflect a bold new chapter.  Gigi shares her unique approach to social impact, focusing on empowering communities through initiatives in Hudson, New York.  From a basic income pilot, her investments...

Culture is destiny. How we treat each other at work has a huge impact on business success and personal fulfillment.   But how can leaders navigate the complexities of remote and hybrid work while cultivating an environment that attracts top talent and drives innovation? Oliver Aust sits down with company culture expert Chris Dyer, author of "The Power of Company Culture" and "Remote Work", to unpa...

Do you ever feel like you're drowning in work? Constantly battling a never-ending swarm of emails, Slack messages, and meeting invites? Wondering how you can use automation and new tools to make your life easier? We all know the feeling all too well. In this week's episode, Oliver Aust speaks with Nick Sonnenberg. Nick is a serial entrepreneur, a guest lecturer at Columbia University, and the auth...

This week’s guest is none other than Seth Godin – the world’s most famous marketer, a highly successful entrepreneur, and the author of 21 best-selling books.  Seth just released his brand-new book This is Strategy, a groundbreaking guide to creating meaningful change in a complex world. In addition to strategy – which is a compass and not a map – we discuss leadership, storytelling and communicat...

Positive feedback is easy. But if you are like most, you have probably struggled with having tough conversations at work.  To find out how to give honest feedback without destroying relationships, Oliver Aust is joined by Jason Rosoff, CEO of Radical Candor, the company he co-founded with Kim Scott, the author of the bestselling book with the same name.  Radical candor allows us to care personally...

Change is inevitable, yet 70% of change processes fail. This has become a major issue for many organizations, whose very survival depends on adapting to changing times.  To find a way forward for both leaders and teams, Oliver Aust is joined by Tamsen Webster, a world-renowned expert in change communication and author of the brand-new book Say What They Can't Unhear.  Tamsen, who also wrote the ex...

Most presentations are instantly forgotten. Or worse, people don’t even pay attention in the first place.  What makes a presentation stand out? To find out, Oliver Aust talks with Kris Flegg, founder of Presentation Design Co. and author of The Presentation Playbook about the art of capturing audience attention.  Kris, who transitioned from a “below-average” presenter to working with global giants...

Do you realize how much your body language influences the way others perceive you as a leader?  In this week’s episode of Speak Like a CEO, Oliver Aust sits down with Blake Eastman, founder of The Nonverbal Group and School of Cards. As a former professional poker player, Blake mastered reading body language and high-stakes decision-making at the poker table.  He now applies these skills to help t...