The H2 Leadership Podcast

In Episode 4 of our H2 Leader Summer Series, Alan and Jonathan hit on one of the most liberating leadership truths: “Who you are matters more than what you do.” In a world that obsessively equates titles, achievements, and performance metrics with worth, it’s easy to lose sight of the unshakeable identity and purpose beneath the surface. Join them as they unpack: The difference between your role (...

Originally released on Johnny Levy’s Workplace Delight podcast, this episode was too good not to share with our Stay Forth audience! Alan Briggs—leadership & sabbatical coach, “mountain guide for the leadership journey,” and co-host of the Stay Forth Leadership Podcast—joins Johnny to explore why intentional sabbaticals are the next frontier in workplace culture. Whether you’re in HR, the C-su...

Alan and Jonathan expose the dark side of hustle culture and introduce a far better alternative: rhythms. We all know the story—“push harder, grind longer, you’ll get your big payday.” It glitters until you crash. Instead, learn why top performers thrive on repeatable, sustainable habits and how you can wage war on burnout with simple, life-giving routines. You’ll walk away with: A clear definitio...

Welcome to Year 3 of our Summer Series—and this time, we're going all in on what it means to become an H2 Leader: someone who is both healthy and high impact. In this kickoff episode, Jonathan and Alan introduce the theme for the summer, reflect on past unhealthy and high-impact seasons of their own leadership, and share why this H2 tension is so important in today's fast-paced world. You’ll get a...

We’ve been holding this one close, and it’s finally time to share the big news... After years of coaching hundreds of leaders through sabbaticals—and taking a few ourselves—we’re beyond thrilled to announce a double launch that we believe could change how leaders rest, recover, and re-enter their work with purpose. In this episode, Alan and Jonathan unveil: The Sabbatical Journey Field Guide — a b...

In this unique episode, Jonathan and Alan explore how the 7th inning stretch in baseball offers a powerful metaphor for leadership—especially during the summer. Whether you're crushing your goals or feeling stuck halfway through the year, summer provides a built-in opportunity to pause, reset, and reconnect. They unpack how leaders can make intentional use of this season to reflect, recalibrate, a...

In this episode of the podcast, leadership strategist Alan is joined by Brandon Young—Army Ranger veteran, leadership expert, and co-founder of Applied Leadership Partners. Together, they explore how leaders can develop the mindset and skill set to thrive, not just survive, through seasons of high pressure, deep uncertainty, and prolonged adversity. Brandon brings over 25 years of frontline leader...

Episode Description: We spend so much time building resumes—but what will people really say at our memorials? In this reflective and unscripted episode, Alan shares how two very different moments—a family memorial and a coaching session—led to the same life-altering question: What truly matters? A Alan is joined by surprise guest Wayne Francis, who shares powerful insights from his own Vision Refr...

Time is your most precious resource—and summer is slipping up fast. In this episode, Alan Briggs lays out 4 practical, life-giving keys to intentionally plan a summer that actually replenishes you instead of overwhelming you. “If you don’t plan your summer, it will plan you.” Whether you're a parent, a leader, or someone just feeling May-Sember chaos, this episode is your summer strategy session....

In this powerful episode, host Alan Briggs sits down with Dave Garrison—former multinational CEO and author of The Buy-In Advantage—to unpack one of the workplace’s biggest hidden threats: employee disengagement. Drawing from decades of experience and real-world data, Dave shares why disengagement is accelerating, what’s really behind it, and how today’s leaders can reverse the trend and re-engage...

Alan Briggs is joined by leadership developer and Multiply Group founder Mac Lake to unpack the growing leadership crisis—and how we fix it. Mac shares why so many organizations struggle with developing leaders rather than recruiting them, and how we can begin to shift the culture from leadership borrowing to leadership building. They dive deep into: Why leadership development is still the #1 chal...

In today’s episode, Alan sits down with Stephanie Chung, a trailblazing aviation executive, leadership strategist, and best selling author of Ally Leadership: How to Lead People Who Aren’t Like You. With over 35 years of aviation experience—from parking planes at Boston Logan Airport to becoming the first Black president of a major U.S. private aviation company—Stephanie brings a powerhouse perspe...

What happens when your calling—the thing that once felt like holy ground—starts draining you? In this compelling conversation, Alan sits down with Dr. Arianna Anderson, author of the new book Healthy Calling: From Toxic Burnout to Sustainable Work. Arianna combines academic research, personal story, and spiritual wisdom to expose the surprising dark side of calling. Together, they unpack why some...

Life is bumpy. Leadership? Even bumpier. And in this final part of the H2 Leader mini-series, Alan explores how leaders can develop fresh shocks—the resilience required to stay grounded during change, disruption, and uncertainty. From economic instability to organizational shifts to personal burnout, leaders today are being shaken more than ever before. But you don’t have to be a shaky leader. Thi...

In part two of The H2 Leader mini-series, Alan digs into the dangers of misalignment—how it quietly creeps into our leadership, disrupts our team dynamics, and pulls us away from the work we’re truly wired to do. If you’ve ever felt a low-grade frustration at work… like something’s just a little “off”... or noticed your team drifting apart, this episode is for you. From the inside-out burnout of a...

In this special bonus episode, we’re hitting pause—so that you can learn the power of pressing pause.  This episode dives into the growing conversation around sabbaticals—not just as a nice-to-have, but a strategic leadership development tool. You’ll hear a compelling narration of our latest white paper, inspired by a powerful Harvard Business Review article and infused with our own research and y...

Welcome to Part 1 of our three-part series on the H2 Leader—a leader who is both Healthy and High-Impact. In this episode, Alan dives into the first crucial element of sustainable leadership: brakes. Many leaders today are moving way too fast—making decisions at a breakneck pace, pushing their teams beyond capacity, and ultimately heading toward burnout. But real impact doesn’t come from speed alo...

Alan Briggs sits down with Scott Cutlan—business leader, mountaineer, and author of Unreasonable: Seven Impactful Lessons Discovered Climbing the Seven Summits . Scott shares his journey from corporate executive to scaling the highest peaks in the world, and the deep leadership insights he uncovered along the way. They explore purpose, alignment, resilience, and the importance of saying "no" to st...

Jonathan and Alan discuss the transformative power of sabbaticals, exploring how they can benefit both leaders and organizations. Alan shares his personal experiences with sabbaticals and how they led him to coaching others on the subject. They highlight the importance of demystifying sabbaticals, the organizational benefits they bring, and practical steps for implementing a healthy sabbatical pro...

Jenni Catron and Alan Briggs explore the complexities of leadership and organizational culture. They discuss the importance of open communication, feedback loops, and the need for leaders to be aware of the cultural dynamics within their teams. Jenni emphasizes the significance of patience and persistence when implementing change, as well as the responsibility leaders have in shaping the lives of...

Alan Briggs is joined by Brad Lomenick, leadership consultant, author, and connector of world-changing leaders, to discuss the art of building meaningful relationships, creating transformational gatherings, and leading with curiosity. Brad unpacks the difference between networkers vs. connectors, the importance of relational intelligence, and how leaders can curate experiences that foster true con...

In this deeply moving and insightful conversation, Alan Briggs sits down with bestselling author and pastor John Ortberg to explore the profound relationship between pain, spiritual growth, and authentic community. Drawing from his own personal journey, the teachings of Jesus, and the wisdom of the AA movement, John shares how embracing our brokenness can lead to deep transformation. About John Jo...

 Alan and Jonathan explore the intersection of leadership and culture using the NFL as a case study, discussing how organizational culture impacts performance. They delve into the definitions of culture, the importance of health and impact in leadership, and share examples of NFL teams, particularly focusing on the Washington Commanders' recent turnaround. The discussion emphasizes the need for le...

We often hear about "awareness" and "seasons" in leadership, but what if the key to making better decisions isn't about setting the right goals—but recognizing the season you're actually in?  In this episode, Jonathan and Alan dive deep into the overlooked yet powerful concept of leadership seasons. They discuss how understanding the phase you're in—whether it's one of pruning, growth, acceleratio...

In this episode, Alan sits down with author, pastor, and speaker Zach Meerkreebs to explore the journey of humility, pain, and redemption that led to his powerful new book, Lower. Zach shares how God shaped his life through challenges, failures, and moments of transformation. The conversation dives deep into themes like radical humility, the crushing seasons of life, and finding God's presence in...