The L3 Leadership Podcast with Doug Smith

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the L3 Leadership Podcast, Doug Smith sits down with Pastor John Nuzzo, founder of Victory Family Church and author of The Acceleration Mandate. Pastor John is also one of the most influential voices in my life — my pastor, mentor, and spiritual father. And honestly… this may be one of the most important conversations we’ve ever had on the podcast. We talked abo...

Send us Fan Mail Only 2% of Christian leaders make it to their finish line with their families, faith, and calling intact — and Doug Smith believes your health is one of the biggest reasons why.  In this powerful talk, Doug shares his personal journey from "Fat Dougie" to fit at 40, the wake-up call he got from his dad's triple bypass surgery, and the practical steps every leader ca...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the L3 Leadership Podcast, Doug Smith shares a powerful message titled Advice for the 60+ Crowd: How to Make the Most of the Final Season of Your Life. After speaking to a group of seniors at a local church in Pittsburgh, Doug realized this message applies to every leader—no matter their age. This episode is a call to live with intention, finish well, and invest...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the L3 Leadership Podcast, Doug Smith shares a powerful talk he gave for Keller Williams titled How to Build a Great Life. Doug walks through the principles that have shaped his own journey—from a difficult upbringing to leading a nonprofit, raising a family, and developing leaders—and challenges listeners to stop simply “accepting” life and start intentionally...

Send us Fan Mail Most leaders think they’re growing—but in reality, they’re just repeating the same year over and over again. In this powerful conversation, Doug sits down with Chris Robinson, Executive Vice President of Maxwell Leadership, to unpack why over 90% of leaders plateau—and what it actually takes to reach your potential. Chris shares the mindset shift that changed his life from chasing...

Send us Fan Mail What would people say about your life at your memorial service? In this deeply personal episode of the L3 Leadership Podcast, Doug Smith shares the powerful leadership lessons he learned after attending the memorial service of legendary pastor and leader Jeff Leake. For over two hours, story after story was shared about a man who finished his race with his faith, family, character...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the L3 Leadership Podcast, Doug Smith sits down with Dr. Tim Elmore, founder of Growing Leaders and bestselling author of The Future Begins with Z: 9 Strategies to Lead Generation Z as They Disrupt the Workplace. After following Tim’s work for nearly two decades, Doug finally gets to have a conversation that every leader needs to hear. Together, they unpack the...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the L3 Leadership Podcast , Doug Smith shares Part 2 of his annual reflection series , unpacking the final ten lessons he learned in 2025 and how they are shaping his leadership moving into 2026. Drawing from real conversations, leadership challenges, faith, and personal growth, Doug challenges leaders to rethink success, create margin, embrace hard seasons, and...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the L3 Leadership Podcast, Doug Smith kicks off part one of his annual reflection series, sharing the most significant lessons he learned in 2025 and how they’re shaping his leadership in 2026. Drawing from his year-end review process, Doug offers honest insights on health, family, leadership presence, fatherhood, faith, and the unseen weight leaders carry. ⏱️ E...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the L3 Leadership Podcast, host Doug Smith sits down with returning guest Jeremy Pryor, founder of Family Teams, for a wide-ranging conversation on leadership, family, faith, and legacy. Jeremy shares how viewing the family as a team—not a temporary stage of life—can reshape how leaders think about generational impact. 00:00 – Welcome to the L3 Leadership Podcas...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the L3 Leadership Podcast, host Doug Smith shares his year-end review process, which has been a cornerstone of his personal growth since 2004. Doug discusses the importance of reflecting on the year gone by to foster growth and documents his detailed approach to conducting a comprehensive year-end review. He includes practical tips and encourages creating a pers...

Send us Fan Mail Holiday Gift Guide Link In this episode of the L3 Leadership Podcast, Doug Smith delivers a reflective, practical lesson on leadership gifts worth sharing—especially when life gets busy. Using the backdrop of the holiday season, Doug unpacks a curated gift guide through the lens of leadership, family, personal growth, and mindful presence. He reminds leaders that tools, systems, a...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the L3 Leadership Podcast, Doug Smith talks with Peter Ostapko, co-founder of Kinsman Journal and leader of the growing Kinsman community in Springfield, Missouri. Peter shares his journey from a career in banking to launching gatherings designed to help men find authentic brotherhood, friendship, and faith-driven connection. Together they discuss the loneliness...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the L3 Leadership Podcast, Doug sits down with Matt Higgins, Executive Director of Hope Children’s Home in Tampa, Florida. Matt shares the powerful mission of providing a loving home and education to children from difficult circumstances, along with their new Bundles of Hope initiative that gives mothers in crisis pregnancies the gift of time and support. Links:...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the L3 Leadership Podcast, Doug Smith shares a personal lesson on 9 Ways to Develop Your Character. As Doug explains, character development is the most important development for any leader—because without integrity, everything else eventually crumbles. Drawing from his own journey and the wisdom of mentors, Doug outlines nine practical and powerful ways to stren...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the L3 Leadership Podcast, Doug Smith interviews Rob Dube, author of Shine: How Looking Inward is the Key to Unlocking True Entrepreneurial Freedom , co-written with Gino Wickman. Rob shares powerful insights on how leaders can balance their drive with inner peace, manage their energy, and lead with humility. From understanding the nature of being “driven,” to i...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the L3 Leadership Podcast, host Doug Smith flips roles as he is interviewed by Ron Moore on the Living Grounded Podcast. The conversation delves into a variety of leadership topics, including whether leaders are born or made, the importance of failure in growth, and the value of mentorship and personal development. 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Today&apo...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the L3 Leadership Podcast, host Doug Smith shares personal reflections and insights gained from turning 40. From expressing gratitude for life, emphasizing the importance of personal growth, to highlighting the significance of family and faith, Doug offers a comprehensive summary of his key takeaways over the years.  00:00 Introduction and Purpose 00:32 Turning...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the L3 Leadership Podcast, Doug Smith interviews Kent Chevalier, Chaplain of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Kent discusses his journey from a campus pastor to serving in the NFL, emphasizing the unique role he and his wife play in supporting players and coaches spiritually and emotionally. 00:00 Welcome Back, Kent Chevalier! 00:41 Role of a Chaplain in the NFL 02:00 F...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the L3 Leadership Podcast, Doug Smith interviews Jeff Hancher, author of 'Firm Feedback in a Fragile World.' Jeff shares his journey from growing up in poverty to a successful 24-year career, emphasizing the pivotal moments shaped by firm feedback and strong leadership.  00:00 Welcome and Introduction 00:35 The Journey to Writing a Book 01:14 Overcomin...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Doug Smith joins Nick Poole on the Calvary Leadership Podcast. Doug shares his journey from being unaware of personal development to becoming a champion of continuous growth is highlighted through his impactful story. Doug shares his life plan approach for setting long-term goals in various life areas—spirituality, marriage, family, finances, friendships, and heal...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the L3 Leadership Podcast, Doug Smith and guest Ryan Leak discuss Ryan's journey as a New York Times bestselling author and speaker.  Ryan shares his extensive experience of speaking at over 120 events annually and reaching millions through his work. They delve into the importance of stewardship over opportunism, balancing faith in God with personal hustle,...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the L3 Leadership Podcast, Doug Smith interviews Larry Hagner, founder of the Dad Edge, about his mission to create legendary marriages, epic relationships with kids, personal financial mastery, optimized health, and leadership within families.  Larry shares his personal journey growing up in a dysfunctional household, the challenges he faced in his early father...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the L3 Leadership Podcast, Doug Smith sits down with Rob and Kelsey Mercuri to discuss their experiences in politics, leadership, and parenting. Rob, a former State Representative and candidate for Congress, shares his journey through six elections, offering insights into the challenges of campaigning, the importance of great teams, and the lessons learned from...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Doug Smith, host of the L3 Leadership Podcast, joins the Lunch Break series of the Boss Juice Podcast to discuss his journey from a challenging childhood to becoming a successful podcaster and leader in the Pittsburgh community.  Doug shares insights on how he was inspired by mentors, the importance of community, and how no leader should do life alone. He also del...