The Science of Leadership

In this deeply moving conclusion to a special two-part biographical series, the tables remain turned on The Science of Leadership. Guest host Lindsey Turner (CEO of be Frank) pushes host Dr. Tom Collins further into the hot seat to explore the vulnerable evolution from a kid running away from his Appalachian roots to an elite clinical and military leader fully stepping into his identity. If Part O...

In this special, raw, and deeply personal episode of The Science of Leadership, the tables are completely turned. Host Dr. Tom Collins steps into the hot seat as a guest, handing the microphone over to Lindsey Turner, founder and CEO of Be Frank. Driven by listener requests to uncover the origins of his leadership philosophy, this episode marks Part One of an emotional, two-part biographical retro...

In this episode of The Science of Leadership, host Tom Collins and co-host Justin Hamrick tackle a deceptive, everyday challenge that many managers quietly fail to execute: how to say no to the people you lead. While it is tempting to view a refusal as a negative transaction or a dead-end street, true organizational health treats "no" as a constructive fork in the road—a boundary-setting moment th...

In this episode of The Science of Leadership, host Tom Collins and co-host Justin Hamrick unpack a sobering reality every manager eventually faces: there are days, high-stakes situations, and sudden crises that demand far better than our best. Inspired by a moving song lyric from The Cure’s album The Long Surrender, the hosts explore the profound difference between simply giving maximum effort and...

In this episode of The Science of Leadership, host Tom Collins and co-host Justin Hamrick return for part two of their deep dive into holding people accountable . While part one established that accountability is an act of care, part two delivers the practical, step-by-step framework leaders need to stop avoiding conflict and start transforming their team culture. Tom and Justin confront the root...

In this episode of The Science of Leadership, host Tom Collins and co-host Justin Hamrick kick off a vital two-part series on a principle every leader claims to value but many struggle to execute: holding people accountable. Far from a mechanical corporate checklist or a synonym for punishment, the duo reframes accountability as a profound act of responsible leadership and ethical care. They dive...

In this episode of The Science of Leadership, host Tom Collins is joined by Dr. Thomas Easterly, a retired Army officer and Director of Plans, Analysis, and Integration at Carlisle Barracks. Together, they demystify artificial intelligence, moving past the extremes of viewing it as either a magical savior or a looming threat. Instead, they frame AI as an extraordinary tool that enhances, but never...

In this episode of The Science of Leadership, host Tom Collins and co-host Justin Hamrick tackle one of the most demanding principles in organizational life: the idea that leadership, at its core, is not about the leader. While it’s easy to put on a bumper sticker, "ego restraint" is a high-level discipline that separates good leaders from the truly great. The duo explores the "Main Character Trap...

In this episode of The Science of Leadership, host Tom Collins is joined by Dr. Ken Slaw, an organizational leadership expert and Executive Director of the Society for Vascular Surgery. Together, they explore a critical but often overlooked reality: much of an organization's most important work—from translating strategy to driving innovation—happens in the middle. Dr. Slaw and Tom dismantle the my...

In this episode of Science of Leadership, host Tom Collins and co-host Justin Hamrick dive into the essential, performance-driving variable of Positive Mental Outlook (PMO). Far from superficial optimism or "terminal positivity," a constructive outlook is a leader's ability to remain grounded and forward-looking even when circumstances are hard, uncertain, or dangerous.   The team explores how a l...

In this episode of The Science of Leadership, host Tom Collins sits down with retired Army Lieutenant General Doug Gabram, an Apache aviator who commanded troops from the captain level all the way to a three-star general. Together, they explore why trust is the "fuel for all of life" and the foundational ingredient for building championship teams. Doug shares deeply personal stories from the battl...

In this episode of The Science of Leadership, host Tom Collins and co-host Justin Hamrick dismantle the myth that relationship-building is a "soft" or optional skill in professional environments.  They argue that leadership is fundamentally relational, and while authority can be granted by a title, true influence is earned through the "space between people." The discussion explores the intentional...

In this episode of The Science of Leadership, host Tom Collins is joined by Captain Butch Wilmore, a retired NASA astronaut and Navy test pilot, for a gripping discussion on leading when the original plan no longer fits reality. Capt. Wilmore shares his first-hand account of the Boeing Starliner’s first crewed flight, which transformed from an eight-day test mission into an unplanned eight-month s...

In this episode of The Science of Leadership, host Tom Collins sits down with General Gene Renuart, a retired U.S. Air Force four-star general and former commander of NORAD and NORTHCOM. Together, they tackle a provocative leadership principle that challenges modern organizational norms: Trying to create consensus on everything is doomed to mediocrity.   General Renuart argues that while seeking d...

In this episode of The Science of Leadership, host Tom Collins welcomes back Rob Carter, former CIO of FedEx, for a deep dive into the grit and intentionality required to lead high-performance teams. Moving beyond the "ethereal" side of leadership, Rob shares raw insights from his storied career—including leading global technology through the unprecedented pressures of the COVID-19 pandemic.   The...

In this episode of The Science of Leadership, host Tom Collins, MD is joined by Richard Benson-Armer, a former senior partner at McKinsey and veteran Chief Strategy Officer, to strip away the buzzwords and "incantations" surrounding the word strategy. Strategy is often confused with goals, budgets, or wishful thinking, but real strategy is an integrated set of choices designed to position an organ...

In this episode of The Science of Leadership, hosts Tom Collins and Justin Hamrick dive into one of the most essential, yet frequently neglected, leadership practices: knowing your people. While it may sound simple, truly knowing those you lead requires time, intentionality, and a commitment to seeing them as human beings rather than just task-producers. The discussion explores why leadership is f...

In this episode of The Science of Leadership, host Tom Collins welcomes back retired U.S. Navy Admiral Scott Swift, former commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet. Together, they tackle a fundamental leadership failure: the tendency to treat every operational hiccup as a five-alarm fire. Admiral Swift shares his "don't run, it startles the horses" philosophy, arguing that leaders who thrive on constan...

In this episode of The Science of Leadership, hosts Tom Collins and Justin Hamrick dive into a deceptively simple principle that separates elite leaders from the rest: giving the credit and taking the blame. While many in leadership positions are quick to do the opposite, high-trust leaders understand that shining the spotlight outward during success and stepping forward during failure is a recipe...

In this high-stakes episode of The Science of Leadership, host Tom Collins sits down with Dr. Sofie Morgan, an emergency medicine physician and Associate Chief Medical Officer at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Drawing from her frontline experience in life-and-death scenarios—including managing the influx of victims from a mass shooting—Dr. Morgan reveals the critical communicatio...

In this episode of The Science of Leadership, host Tom Collins and co-host Justin Hamrick tackle one of the most challenging aspects of management: dealing with difficult personalities. From the "brilliant jerk" to the "energy vampire," difficult individuals can erode team cohesion and stall organizational progress. The discussion moves beyond simple vent sessions to explore the psychological unde...

In this episode of The Science of Leadership, host Tom Collins sits down with MIT's Chris Dunphy to discuss the hidden dynamics of multidisciplinary team success. As systems become more complex, they often exceed the cognitive capacity of any single individual, making effective team cohesion a requirement for survival. The conversation centers on the Allen Curve, a research-backed phenomenon showi...

In this episode of The Science of Leadership, host Dr. Tom Collins welcomes retired U.S. Coast Guard Captain Darcie Cunningham to explore the critical role of resilience in high-stakes leadership. Drawing from her 24-year military career, Captain Cunningham shares personal stories of professional setbacks and international challenges to illustrate how leaders can not only recover from adversity bu...

In this episode of The Science of Leadership, host Tom Collins and co-host Justin Hamrick dive deep into the imperative concept of team cohesion. Using a unique analogy from chemistry, they distinguish between adhesion—where one leader tries to hold a team together—and true cohesion, where team members are joined through mutual interaction and strong relationships. The discussion explores why "tea...

In this profound episode of The Science of Leadership, host Tom Collins is joined by Colonel Lee Ellis (Ret. U.S. Air Force, former Vietnam POW, and author of Leading with Honor). Colonel Ellis spent five years, four months, and two weeks enduring the crucible of adversity in the Hanoi Hilton, forging indelible lessons about character, trust, and honor. Colonel Ellis defines the honor code as tell...