The Self-Leadership Lab

What if the key to self-leadership, peace, and purpose has been hiding in plain sight across both Stoicism and the teachings of Jesus? In this episode of The Self-Leadership Lab, Bobby sits down with Brittany Polat, PhD in Applied Linguistics, editor of Stoicism Today, and author of Jesus and Stoicism, to explore the powerful overlap between ancient philosophy and Christian faith. Together, they u...

If your calendar is full… but your life still feels out of control, this episode is for you. In this episode of The Self-Leadership Lab, Bobby sits down with leadership coach Erin Treacy to unpack one of the biggest hidden traps in modern life: confusing busyness with progress. We’ve been conditioned to believe that a packed schedule means we’re productive. But what if your calendar is actually wo...

Most leaders don’t fail because they lack intelligence, they fail because their decisions drift from their values. In this episode of the Self-Leadership Lab, Bobby sits down with Angelo D’Amico to unpack one of the most overlooked aspects of leadership: decision-making under pressure. This isn’t theory. This is real-world leadership. Together, they break down: • The tension between short-term per...

What if the key to your growth… isn’t comfort, but truth? In this episode of The Self-Leadership Lab, Bobby sits down with Yogi Mueller, author of The Great Slapping, to unpack one of the most overlooked drivers of success: real mentorship and honest feedback. Yogi shares the concept of “The Great Slapping.” The uncomfortable, sometimes painful moments that force you to confront who you are… and w...

What if the key to better leadership, focus, and peace of mind wasn’t more effort… but better control of your inner world? In this episode of The Self-Leadership Lab, Bobby sits down with meditation and breathwork instructor Shalin Desai to explore how breathwork can transform your mental clarity, emotional control, and overall performance. Most people live in a constant pursuit of happiness, chas...

Most leaders chase results. But what if the real key to influence… is something far simpler? In this episode of The Self-Leadership Lab, Bobby sits down with Phil Ransom, author of Influenced, to unpack a powerful and often overlooked truth: Gratitude isn’t just polite… it’s transformational. Phil shares how shifting from a “gratitude as debt” mindset to a “gratitude as a conduit” mindset can comp...

Are you struggling to find your purpose in life? Feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or constantly overthinking your next move? In this episode of the Self-Leadership Lab, we dive deep into how to find your purpose, gain clarity, and take action toward a meaningful life with author and Army veteran Jacqueline Smith, creator of The Purpose Code. Too many people chase success, but still feel unfulfilled. Th...

What if the biggest source of your frustration… is your expectations? In this episode of the Self-Leadership Lab, Bobby sits down with Eric from the Stoic Coffee Break to explore how expectations, comparison, and lack of self-acceptance quietly control our lives and how Stoicism offers a way out. Together, they unpack how trying to control others leads to disappointment, why self-acceptance is the...

She spent 70 days in the ICU… and almost didn’t come back. What she experienced during that time changed everything. Her purpose, her faith, and how she leads her life today. This is one of the most powerful self-leadership stories you’ll hear. In this episode of the Self-Leadership Lab, Bobby sits down with Holly Porter, entrepreneur, author, and survivor, who went from building multiple business...

What does real success actually look like? In this episode of The Self-Leadership Lab, Bobby sits down with Jairek Robbins, performance coach, entrepreneur, and founder of Performance Coach University, to explore what it truly means to live a high-performance life. Too many people structure their entire lives around work. Meetings. Deadlines. Endless productivity. But what if the most successful p...

What if the biggest obstacles in your life were preparing you for your purpose? In this powerful episode of The Self-Leadership Lab, Bobby sits down with therapist Zulma Williams, whose story will challenge every excuse you’ve ever made. Zulma moved to the United States from Argentina at 31 without speaking English. She started college at 42 years old. Six weeks after graduating… she was diagnosed...

Why do so many capable people struggle with consistency, discipline, and confidence? In this episode of The Self-Leadership Lab, Bobby sits down with Amy Lenius to unpack the deeper drivers behind personal growth: self-belief and self-worth. Amy explains why discipline isn’t always the problem. Many people who think they lack motivation are actually dealing with low self-belief or low self-worth,...

Many high achievers look successful on the outside—but privately struggle with self-doubt, people-pleasing, and a harsh inner voice. In this episode of The Self-Leadership Lab, Bobby Shelton sits down with author and life coach Karin Velicka, whose book Dear Me Letters was born from writing to her past self during one of the hardest seasons of her life. Together they explore the difficult but tran...

If you’ve ever felt stuck, hollow, or like you’re doing “all the right things” but still feel disconnected… this episode is for you. On this episode of The Self-Leadership Lab, Bobby sits down with John Miles (Navy veteran, former senior executive, founder of Passion Struck) to unpack a crisis that’s quietly growing: the feeling that you don’t matter. John shares the hidden roots of the “mattering...

Are you living in a prison without bars? For years, I was. In this episode of The Self-Leadership Lab, I sit down with Vinnie Tortorich, founder of No Sugar No Grains and host of Fitness Confidential to talk about: • Why most people regain 100+ pounds • Why New Year’s resolutions fail by mid-January • The fear of success nobody talks about • Why motivation is overrated • The identity shift require...

What separates average managers from transformational leaders? In this episode of Self-Leadership Lab, I sit down with leadership coach and engineering executive Joe Wyrwas to unpack the real drivers behind effective leadership: communication, ownership, culture, and consistent action. Joe shares his remarkable journey from a quiet high school student discovering leadership, to running a 15-person...

What if the real key to leadership isn’t authority… but service? In this episode of The Self-Leadership Lab, Bobby sits down with leadership expert and author Kevin Wayne Johnson to unpack what it truly means to lead with a servant’s heart. Servant leadership has been talked about since the 1970s but is often misunderstood. Kevin breaks down why it’s not weakness, not passivity, and not “soft lead...

Most people drift into a life shaped by expectations, fear, and outside influence. In this conversation, I sit down with Blake Cooper Griffin, author of The Story of You, to unpack how identity, narrative, and personal ownership shape the direction of your life. If you’ve ever felt stuck, misaligned, or unsure whether you’re building something meaningful; this episode is for you. We explore: • Why...

Are you a newly promoted leader who feels unprepared for what leadership actually requires? Most new leaders think success is about hitting KPIs, driving performance, and proving competence. But what if the real work of leadership has nothing to do with metrics on a dashboard and everything to do with the metrics you never show anyone? In this episode of Self-Leadership Lab, I sit down with execut...

Do you ever wonder how your brain influences the way you lead? In this episode of Self-Leadership Lab, I sit down with Dr. Lisa Riegel to unpack a powerful truth: leadership isn’t just strategy and metrics it’s neuroscience, behavior, and human connection. We explore how understanding the brain can transform your leadership from aspirational to operational. Dr. Riegel introduces her 8 C Commitment...

Ever feel busy all day… but go to bed wondering what you accomplished? That’s not a work ethic problem. It’s a clarity problem. In this episode of Self-Leadership Lab, Bobby sits down with David Prosper (“The Clarity Guy”) to break down why most people feel stuck and why waiting for clarity is keeping them there. Clarity isn’t a vision. It isn’t motivation. It isn’t confidence. Clarity is the next...

Most leaders don’t burn out from doing too much. They burn out because they stop leading themselves. What if the reason so many leaders feel burned out, disconnected, or empty isn’t a lack of skill but a lack of inner leadership? In this episode of Self-Leadership Lab, Bobby sits down with Dr. Greg Woodard, author of Leadership from Within, to explore why true leadership starts on the inside and h...

Most people think stewardship is about money. In this episode, you’ll discover why stewardship might be the key to self-leadership, mental health, and purpose-driven living. In this powerful episode of Self-Leadership Lab, Bobby sits down with stewardship coach Scott Maderer to unpack a concept that’s often misunderstood and rarely discussed honestly. Scott shares his personal journey from educato...

What if the problem isn’t your discipline, motivation, or leadership skills but what you’re building your life on? In this powerful conversation, Bobby sits down with Jason Heinritz, founder of the Wake Up Jesus People movement, to explore the spiritual and physical foundations of true self-leadership. Jason shares his personal journey from chasing titles, money, and success to surrender, peace, a...

Are you trying to become better by doing more but yet still feel stuck? In this episode of Self-Leadership Lab, I sit down with Ryan Gottfredson, author of Becoming Better, to unpack a powerful (and often overlooked) truth: Most people don’t stall because of a lack of effort but because they stop evolving internally. We explore the difference between doing better and being better, why horizontal g...