the Learn-It-All™ podcast

There’s often a gap between what school teaches and what real life demands. Jason Weiss found that to be true for becoming a lawyer. Now, after 25 years in the legal world, he shares the practical, hard-earned lessons that apply to anyone trying to succeed in a high-pressure, people-driven profession. Whether you’re a lawyer, leader, or someone simply figuring out how to show up fully in your work...

Have you ever stayed too long at a job, on a project, or even a relationship just because you already put so much into it? That’s the “Sunk Cost” fallacy at work. And it can quietly sabotage smart leaders, strong companies, and promising futures. In this solo episode, Damon unpacks how this psychological trap nearly cost his company half a million dollars and what finally gave him the clarity and...

70% of college seniors with student debt say looming repayments will impact their career plans. The average graduate and oftentimes, their parents will endure 17 to 20 years of loan payments in efforts to become free from student debt.  Our emerging workforce will comprise 75% of the workforce by 2025 making student debt a majority issue. Student debt isn’t just a financial burden, but it’s o...

What happens when your lifelong career ends overnight? Most people panic. Steve Delsohn got to work.  After 16 years at ESPN, multiple journalism awards, and a career-defining body of investigative work, Steve found himself laid off, just one day after winning two prestigious honors. In this episode, Steve opens up about the emotional and professional toll of being let go, how he transitioned...

When host Damon Lembi quit drinking, it had nothing to do with hitting rock bottom. Instead, it had everything to do with the future he wanted to create.  In this episode, you’ll learn: Why Damon gave up alcohol (without hitting a dramatic low) The moment he realized he wasn’t showing up as the person he wanted to be A 5-step framework for making lasting change in your life How to handle disc...

Business-to-business commerce is broken. Today’s customers find themselves overwhelmed by too many options, too much information, and too many obstacles. The result is often an inability to execute any but the safest of purchase decisions, frequently resulting in no decision at all.   Today’s guest is Brent Adamson, he’s a world-renowned researcher, author, presenter, trainer, and adviso...

“73% of customers say experience is a key factor in their purchasing decisions just behind price and product quality,” according to a report from PwC.  Customer experience is no longer just a support function of your business... it’s a leadership strategy.   In this episode, we’re joined by Van Battle , a seasoned customer experience leader who has first hand experience on how it can imp...

We’ve all paid the price of believing in someone who let us down. But what if that “cost” isn’t a failure, but it’s a necessary for greater connection, creativity, and leadership?  It's a mindset shift for leaders who want to build stronger teams, healthier relationships, and resilient organizations.   If you’ve ever been burned by someone at work or in life, this one’s for you.  In...

Sales is not just about closing deals. Leadership and sales are, at their core, both about helping people achieve what they didn’t think was possible. But in order to effectively help people, you need to master the skill of sales.  In this episode, we’re joined by Mark Hunter, renowned sales strategist, speaker and author known as The Sales Hunter , to explore the timeless overlap between sel...

Success is an extremely misunderstood word. If you lack the self-awareness of why you do what you do, it won’t matter how much money you are making on paper. This lack of awareness can prevent you from performing at your best, but that’s what we’re here to solve today.  Today’s guest is JM Ryerson. He’s a serial entrepreneur, performance coach, author and the founder of Let’s Go Win , a compa...

The secret to making your team more engaged, more productive and far less likely to leave? Intentional and focused 1 on 1 meetings. Today’s guest learned this lesson the hard way.   Brendan Rogers is a leadership coach who used to believe that great teams were built through occasional team meetings and annual performance reviews. But when the world went remote during the pandemic? He was...

In a world that’s accelerating towards AI & automation, what sets us apart isn’t speed or scale, it’s creativity.  The biggest myth we’re here to dispel is that creativity is only for artists. That’s a lie.  In today’s episode, we’re joined by MaryLou Kayser, who has spent the last 30 years as a coach, speaker and thought leader around the power of creativity.  What You’ll Learn...

Research shows that high-performing sales teams drive up to 80% of a company’s revenue (Harvard Business Review). Yet most teams are flying blind and relying on outdated sales plans, inconsistent outreach, and a lack of new leads for their business. pipelines.  In this episode, we’re joined by author and leading expert in B2B sales coaching, Mark Cox. Whether you're new to sales or a seasoned...

Most leaders follow the rules. Hitting their targets, meeting expectations, and settling into a rhythm. But un common leaders refuse to stay comfortable. Leadership has very little to do with your title or authority. Instead it’s about creating influence, discipline, and the willingness to step outside of your comfort zone if you truly want to be a better leader.  In today’s episode, we’re jo...

11 Skills AI Will Never Replace: Skill #11 Learning Agility   Welcome to The Learn-It-All Podcast’s 11 Skills AI Will Never Replace -- our 11-part special series exploring the essential human skills that AI cannot replicate. With the start of the new year, we’re all facing unprecedented technological disruption and workplace transformation. To help you thrive in this new landscape, we’ve leve...

Being a successful leader for your company in a world full of disruption means building more than your technical skills.   Yes, you must deliver results, but to run a successful business, you need people. And people today want leaders who can and will work to see beyond themselves and only the bottom line.  In today's episode, we’re joined by Joe Davis. He’s the former Managing Dire...

According to Gallup's State of the Global Workplace Report… Only 30% of employees feel truly engaged in their work, and the consequences are massive with higher turnover, lower productivity, and a workforce that feels disconnected from purpose.   The reality? Disengagement is a leadership crisis. It’s time to fix it. Today we’re joined by Jean Accius , CEO of Creating Healthier Communiti...

11 Skills AI Will Never Replace: Skill #10 Delegation   Welcome to The Learn-It-All Podcast’s 11 Skills AI Will Never Replace -- our 11-part special series exploring the essential human skills that AI cannot replicate. With the start of the new year, we’re all facing unprecedented technological disruption and workplace transformation. To help you thrive in this new landscape, we’ve leveraged...

Giving and receiving feedback is one of the most critical yet difficult skills in leadership. Many leaders avoid giving honest feedback, and even more struggle to receive it without defensiveness. But what if feedback didn’t have to feel so uncomfortable? In today’s episode, we’re joined by Joe Hirsch , a communication expert, speaker, and author of The Feedback Fix . Joe introduces his Feed Forwa...

Power Games: How Leaders Navigate the Workplace Dynamics of Power   Are power games undermining your leadership and sabotaging your team's performance?  In this thought-provoking episode of The Learn-It-All Podcast, host Damon Lembi interviews leadership expert Zoë Routh about her forthcoming book Power Games and the complex dynamics of power in the workplace. According to Zoë 's researc...

11 Skills AI Will Never Replace: Skill #9 Collaboration   Welcome to The Learn-It-All Podcast’s 11 Skills AI Will Never Replace -- our 11-part special series exploring the essential human skills that AI cannot replicate. With the start of the new year, we’re all facing unprecedented technological disruption and workplace transformation. To help you thrive in this new landscape, we’ve leverage...

Any Dumbass Leader Can Create an Exceptional Culture   Are your team members running out the door excited to come to work? If not, why?  Garry Ridge, former CEO and Chairman Emeritus of WD-40, joins Damon Lembi on The Learn-It-All Podcast to discuss how leaders can build high-trust, high-performance cultures where people feel valued and can learn, grow, and thrive. Drawing from his 25 ye...

Stop Hemorrhaging Top Talent: A Leader's Guide to Modern Employee Retention   Are you tired of watching your best employees walk out the door despite competitive pay and benefits? What if retention actually begins before an employee's first day?    In this enlightening episode of The Learn-It-All Podcast, host Damon Lembi explores groundbreaking strategies for attracting and retaini...

11 Skills AI Will Never Replace: Skill #8  Coaching   Welcome to The Learn-It-All Podcast’s 11 Skills AI Will Never Replace -- our 11-part special series exploring the essential human skills that AI cannot replicate. With the start of the new year, we’re all facing unprecedented technological disruption and workplace transformation. To help you thrive in this new landscape, we’ve leverag...

Why High Performers Often Fail as Leaders (And What to Do About It)   Are your top individual contributors struggling in leadership roles? According to David Kitchen, founder of Edge Leadership Academy, there's a crucial reason: leadership requires a completely different skillset than individual excellence.   On this episode of The Learn-It-All Podcast, David Kitchen shares insights...