Nick Saban once called a fourth-down decision the “dumbest” mistake of his coaching career—even though his team went on to win the game. In this short solo episode, Mark Graban reflects on why even legendary leaders make decisions that don’t turn out as expected, and why calling them “dumb” misses the real lesson. A brief look at hindsight bias, trust in people, and how reframing mistakes as learning opportunities helps all of us lead better.

Jingle Bells is one of the most recognizable Christmas songs ever written… except it wasn’t written for Christmas at all. In this week’s Mistake of the Week, we unpack one of America’s most enduring cultural misconceptions: the belief that Jingle Bells has anything to do with Christmas. Originally titled One Horse Open Sleigh, the song debuted at a Thanksgiving church service in the 1850s and was inspired not by Santa or reindeer, but by noisy, fast sleigh races in Medford, Massachusetts. No Christmas trees. No North Pole. Just winter racing, youthful chaos, and a catchy melody. Over the decades, repetition turned assumption into “truth,” and a Thanksgiving song quietly shifted into a holiday anthem. It’s a perfect example of how knowledge mistakes spread — harmless, familiar, and rarely examined. In this 3–4 minute episode, Mark explains: Why Jingle Bells was never meant to be a Christmas song How repetition and cultural habit transformed it anyway What this teaches us about assumptions, organizational habits, and the stories we never question Why small knowledge mistakes can persist for generations If you care about learning, improvement, and understanding how mistaken beliefs take root, this episode offers a fun seasonal reminder: even our most cherished “facts” deserve a second look.

In Episode #332 of My Favorite Mistake, Mark Graban talks with Dr. Josh McConkey — emergency physician, Air Force Reserve Commander, combat-deployed medevac leader, and Pulitzer Prize–nominated author. Known as the “MacGyver Doc,” Josh has spent his career solving problems in high-pressure environments where you rarely get a second chance. Episode page with links, video, transcript, and more Josh shares the most painful mistake of his professional life: entering a business partnership without doing the proper due diligence. What followed was a cascade of red flags — Medicare violations, skimming, financial misconduct, and even a $3.4 million bribe offer he refused. The ordeal ultimately cost him nearly $5 million and forced him to rebuild his career and life with integrity front and center. In our discussion, Josh explains how this experience reshaped his understanding of leadership, accountability, and courage — especially in systems where incentives can push good people toward dangerous choices. He also reflects on two decades in emergency medicine, including the structural failures that helped fuel the opioid crisis and the pressures physicians faced to prescribe narcotics. Josh shares why he wrote Be the Weight Behind the Spear and his new children’s leadership book The Heart of a Leader, and why he believes character development must start far earlier than most of us realize. We close with his decision to run for Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina in 2028 — a move grounded in service, accountability, and a desire to strengthen public leadership. This episode explores integrity, systemic failure, resilience, and the lessons we carry forward after a mistake that changes everything.

A 32-year-old woman in Switzerland underwent surgery she didn’t need after a lab mix-up mislabeled her sample. Mark Graban explores how errors like this keep happening, why being “careful” isn’t enough, and what real error-proofing looks like in healthcare. Another sobering reminder that system design — not blame — is what prevents the next mistake.

My guest for Episode #331 of My Favorite Mistake is Andy Regal, a longtime media executive whose career has included leadership roles at The Wall Street Journal, MSNBC, Consumer Reports, Court TV, and CBS College Sports. He is also the author of the forthcoming book, “Surviving Bully Culture: A Career Spent Navigating Workplace Bullying and a Guide for Healing.” Episode page with transcript, video, and more Andy shares a remarkable early-career mistake from his time producing NBC News war coverage with Lester Holt. A young staffer accidentally loaded last week’s script into the teleprompter, and Holt began reading it live on air. Andy, brand new to this type of broadcast, immediately assumed he’d face humiliation or even get fired. Instead, Holt responded with total calm, poise, and kindness—transforming what could have been a career-ending disaster into a lasting lesson on leadership. That moment stands in sharp contrast to the bully bosses Andy encountered throughout his media career. We talk about how bullying shows up in subtle and overt ways, why high performers are often targeted, and how toxic leadership harms morale, performance, and even physical and mental health. Andy explains what recovery looks like and why his book is dedicated to helping people cope with, heal from, and navigate workplaces where bullying is tolerated or ignored. In This Episode: • The wrong-script live TV moment with Lester Holt• Why calm leadership builds psychological safety• The emotional impact of bully bosses• Why bullying thrives in high-pressure environments• How bullying follows people home and affects well-being• What recovery looks like for targets of workplace bullying• Why Andy wrote Surviving Bully Culture Learn More Andy Regal’s website & book pre-order: https://www.andyregal.com

In this Mistake of the Week, Mark Graban breaks down an incident involving an American Airlines A319 on final approach to Phoenix — captured on video with its landing gear still up. A cockpit alert sounded, the crew realized what was missing, and the pilots executed a safe go-around. Their explanation to air traffic control? A perfectly understated: “It wasn’t configured in the appropriate manner.” Mark explores why these near-misses are less about individual oversight and more about systems built to detect — and correct — human error. From checklists to cockpit warnings to the decision to go around instead of pushing forward, this episode highlights why safety depends on catching mistakes early, not pretending they don't happen.  

My guest for Episode #330 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Debra Clary, a leadership strategist, researcher, and executive coach with more than four decades of experience at organizations including Frito-Lay, Coca-Cola, Jack Daniel’s, and Humana. Episode page with video, transcript, and more She’s also a TEDx speaker, former off-Broadway performer, and the author of the new book The Curiosity Curve: A Leader’s Guide to Growth and Transformation Through Bold Questions. In this episode, Debra shares one of her favorite mistakes—an unexpected wrong train stop in Italy that turned into a memorable discovery—and how that happy accident helped shape her approach to curiosity, flexibility, and exploring the unexpected. That theme carries through the conversation as Debra and I discuss how curiosity shows up in leadership, why assumptions can derail teams, and why “having the answers” is often the wrong place to start. Debra walks us through the research behind The Curiosity Curve, including how her team developed a validated diagnostic for measuring curiosity and what they learned about its connection to engagement, retention, innovation, and decision speed. She shares practical examples of how leaders unintentionally shut down curiosity and how small shifts in inquiry can unlock better thinking and stronger team performance. We also explore how curiosity interacts with psychological safety, how leaders can avoid the trap of reflexive certainty, and why curiosity becomes even more important in high-pressure or high-uncertainty situations. Debra closes by discussing the role curiosity plays in an AI-driven world—why it remains uniquely human, and how tools like AI can actually help people deepen their inquiry rather than replace it. If you’re interested in how leaders can cultivate better questions, better conversations, and better outcomes, this episode will spark ideas you can put to use right away. Questions and Topics: What’s your favorite mistake? Were there similar moments in your career where a “missed stop” led to an unexpected opportunity? Was starting as a Frito-Lay route driver a deliberate development path, or was that unusual? Where did your passion for curiosity begin? Is there a way to gauge curiosity in a team or organization? How do you measure something like curiosity in a meaningful way? How do you help leaders learn to be more curious instead of just telling people to “be curious”? When hiring, is it better to select already-curious people or rely on the culture to develop curiosity? Is there such a thing as too much curiosity—can it slow execution or decision-making? From your research or coaching, what’s an example of curiosity being missing and causing problems? How do you help leaders understand that curiosity and psychological safety are building blocks for innovation—not optional extras? Do you see leaders struggle with the difference between knowing, assuming, and figuring things out? In urgent or high-pressure situations, does stress make it harder for people to stay curious? Do you have examples where curiosity helped prevent a small mistake from turning into a big one? Have you seen situations where people used questions in unhelpful or critical ways while claiming they were being “curious”? How do you think about Ed Schein’s idea of humble inquiry? Can AI replace curiosity—or does curiosity still give humans a unique advantage? Can interacting with AI actually help people strengthen their curiosity?

Dr. Melissa Robinson-Winemiller shares how leaving her music and academic career—after years inside a toxic culture and an assault that leadership ignored—became her most important turning point. She explains how that experience led her to study empathy, build a framework for self-empathy, and teach leaders why kindness, not “niceness,” drives accountability, performance, and psychological safety.

In this edition of Mistake of the Week, Mark Graban tells a story that didn’t appear in any safety report or headline — it happened on a pickleball court. Early in learning the sport, Mark found his old tennis instincts taking over, leading to a very incorrect serve and a moment of embarrassment. What followed was a small but meaningful lesson in feedback, psychological safety, and the challenge of unlearning deeply wired habits. Supportive coaching, timely correction, and a friendly playing environment turned an awkward mistake into a productive one. Mark reflects on why unlearning is often harder than learning, and how leaders can create conditions where people feel safe enough to improve.

MaineHealth accidentally mailed condolence letters to 531 living patients — a mix-up both absurd and revealing. Mark Graban unpacks what went wrong, why “fully resolved” doesn’t always mean fully learned, and how leaders can respond to errors without blame. If you got this episode through your podcast app and not a séance, you’re doing fine.

Mark Graban revisits his 2021 conversation with Katie Anderson and Toyota leader Isao Yoshino, reflecting on timeless lessons about humility, psychological safety, and learning from mistakes — with new insights from his recent visit to Japan.

Emily Aborn, a small business copywriter and host of the Small Business Casual podcast, shares how owning a “perfect-on-paper” organic mattress store became her favorite mistake. The profitable business left her unfulfilled, and closing it opened the door to her true strengths—writing, connection, and helping entrepreneurs find their authentic voice. Emily and Mark explore lessons in alignment, self-awareness, marketing, and how mistakes can reveal the work we’re meant to do.

Dr. Maya Ackerman—AI pioneer, researcher, and CEO of WaveAI—shares how an early product misstep led her to champion “humble AI,” technology that supports human creativity instead of overriding it. Her team’s overly ambitious music-creation tool, ALYSIA, taught her that AI can help more by doing less. That lesson fueled the success of Lyric Studio, now used by millions of songwriters. Maya and Mark explore human-centered design, the value of imperfection, and how mistakes—human or machine—can unlock more authentic creativity.

Dr. William Harvey—manufacturing executive, university professor, and U.S. Marine—shares an early-career mistake that reshaped his understanding of trust, humility, and psychological safety. After accidentally derailing a customer order, he braced for blame. Instead, his manager’s calm response and a customer’s extraordinary effort taught him what supportive leadership really looks like. William and Mark discuss how leaders “go first” by admitting mistakes, why psychological safety drives continuous improvement, and how methods like Toyota Kata help people build confidence in problem solving and daily learning.

In this bonus re-release, we revisit an important and timely conversation with Sabrina Moon, Founder and CEO of The Problem Solving Institute and a certified Dare to Lead™ facilitator. Originally aired as Episode #35 of My Favorite Mistake, this conversation remains one of the most powerful and honest reflections on leadership, shame, and transformation. Episode page with transcript and more 🔍 What You’ll Hear: Sabrina’s “favorite mistake” — using shame as a leadership tool in high-stress environments The culture of command-and-control leadership she inherited (and how she broke the cycle) How Brené Brown’s work on vulnerability and shame helped her lead differently The personal toll of shame-based leadership — on her team and herself Why self-awareness is a skill—and how we can build it The role of grace, compassion, and curiosity in becoming a better leader “We use shame and the fear of shame to motivate, but I think in an unhealthy way. I would utilize shame because it was the last tool in my toolbox and I was desperate.” — Sabrina Moon 👤 About Sabrina Moon: Sabrina is a leadership coach and consultant who helps organizations move from reactive command-and-control cultures to psychologically safe environments where continuous improvement and innovation can thrive. Connect with her at ProblemSI.com or on LinkedIn. ✨ Why Re-Release This Episode? As more organizations reflect on how culture impacts performance, engagement, and well-being, this episode offers essential insights for leaders at every level. Whether you're managing a team or transforming a system, Sabrina's story reminds us that who we are as leaders matters just as much as what we do.

Phillip Cantrell—EVP of Strategy at United Real Estate, founder of Benchmark Realty, and author of Failing My Way to Success—shares how major setbacks across his 42-year entrepreneurial journey became catalysts for reinvention. His biggest mistake, putting “all his eggs in one basket,” nearly destroyed his business during the 2007–2008 crisis—but that turning point sparked Benchmark Realty’s growth to nearly 2,000 agents. Phillip and Mark discuss scaling vs. scrambling, why process discipline matters, and how reflection and personal accountability help leaders learn faster and avoid repeating mistakes.

In this very special solo episode of My Favorite Mistake, Mark Graban breaks down the gloriously ridiculous — and surprisingly instructive — mistakes made by the characters in his all-time favorite film, This Is Spinal Tap. With the long-awaited sequel, Spinal Tap II: The End Continues, now in theaters, Mark explores why Spinal Tap endures not just as a cult comedy classic, but as a brilliant satire of human behavior, team dysfunction, communication breakdowns, and leadership gone sideways. And yes — these mistakes still matter, even four decades later. From the Stonehenge measured in inches…To the foil-wrapped “courgette” in the pants…To the pod that wouldn’t open and the drummers who keep dying… …these moments are funny because they’re true. And they’re great reminders that how we respond to mistakes matters more than pretending they never happened. 🔑 Topics & Highlights: Why This Is Spinal Tap is more than just a comedy The iconic “Stonehenge” prop mistake and what it teaches us about communication How real-life rockstars refused to drum in the sequel (because of the “curse”) Why remembering the courgette as a cucumber is itself… a mistake The brilliance of “We don’t have time for that” and the backstage loop in Cleveland Why doing what you’re told isn’t the same as doing what’s right Mark’s personal story of seeing the film 100+ times — starting with a VHS in high school 🔗 Mentions & Links: 🎬 This Is Spinal Tap on IMDb 🎥 Spinal Tap II: The End Continues – Now in Theaters 📘 The Mistakes That Make Us by Mark Graban 💻 SpinalTarp.com – A curated list of character mistakes from the film 🎧 Subscribe & Follow: If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and check out past episodes of My Favorite Mistake — where we talk to leaders, authors, entrepreneurs, and creatives about the mistakes that made them who they are. 🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your shows.

My guest for Episode #324 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Trevor Schade. Episode page with video, transcript, and more Trevor began his career as a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt with a strong background in coding and process improvement. He consulted on business efficiency and outsourcing before shifting into real estate in 2008. After earning his license, he quickly built a top-performing team of 26 agents with zero turnover over five years. By leveraging a virtual admin team in the Philippines and innovative automation, Trevor’s group generated over a million dollars in commissions. In late 2023, Trevor stepped away from leading that large team to focus on investing, advising, and teaching. Today, he speaks on topics including negotiation, time freedom, and real estate strategy, and he has launched Life Wealth courses to help others pursue similar goals. In this episode, Trevor shares his favorite mistake: jumping into a multi-level marketing business at age 19. The venture wasn’t financially successful, but it transformed his mindset. For the first time, Trevor developed a daily reading habit that exposed him to classics like Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People and Robert Kiyosaki’s Rich Dad, Poor Dad. Those books gave him a foundation in psychology, leadership, and long-term thinking that continues to influence his work. We also explore: How lessons from Nebraska football and martial arts shaped Trevor’s resilience What Lean Six Sigma taught him about efficiency, quality, and leadership Why he focused on psychological safety and belonging to keep his team intact How he used outsourcing and automation to scale without burnout The importance of setting trajectories instead of rigid goals in business and life Trevor’s story is a reminder that sometimes the most unprofitable ventures provide the richest education — if we’re willing to learn from them. Questions and Topics: What’s your favorite mistake? How did joining a multi-level marketing company at 19 shape your growth, even if it wasn’t financially successful? Did you ever think about leaving earlier, and was staying too long its own mistake? What lessons did you take from Nebraska football and sports about resilience and bouncing back? How did you first get into Lean Six Sigma and continuous improvement work? In what ways did Lean and coding skills help you scale your real estate business? What did you learn about leadership from running a 26-agent team with zero turnover? How did you create a culture of psychological safety and belonging for your team? Why do you emphasize inspiring people instead of “beating them over the head with metrics”? What role have outsourcing and automation played in your business success? You’ve said you set trajectories instead of rigid goals — what does that mean in practice? Looking back, how do you connect these mistakes and lessons to your current focus on investing, advising, and teaching?

NFL kickers Jay Feely, Shane Graham, David Akers & Nick Lowry—and South Carolina’s Parker White—on mistakes, pressure, and performance.

My guest for Episode #323 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Grace Bourke, Consulting Director of the Performance Excellence Practice at Baker Tilly. With nearly 40 years of experience in healthcare quality improvement and industrial engineering, Grace has worked in clinical care, biotech, global public health, and senior leadership roles at organizations including Kaiser Permanente and Sutter Health.' Episode page Grace shares a very personal favorite mistake — the challenges of building a new home that turned into a nightmare of mold, leaks, and structural flaws. What began as a house problem quickly became a more profound lesson in trust, verification, and speaking up — themes that resonate far beyond construction and directly into the world of healthcare. “Trust and verify becomes trust and vigilant, educated verification.” – Grace Bourke She reflects on how her tendency to trust inspections and processes, while ignoring her own instincts, parallels what often happens in healthcare systems when leaders or staff don’t feel psychologically safe to raise concerns. Grace connects her experience to the importance of leadership accountability, patient safety, and continuous improvement, noting that healthcare still struggles to admit mistakes and act decisively to prevent harm. We also talk about the role of psychological safety, second opinions, and lifelong learning, both in our personal lives and in healthcare. Grace shares how hobbies like glass fusing remind her that safe spaces for experimentation and “planned mistakes” can strengthen resilience, creativity, and growth. “We can’t fix the whole world, but we can fix our small piece — and that makes a difference.” – Grace Bourke Questions and Topics: What’s your favorite mistake? Was the mistake choosing this builder, or not verifying inspections before closing? Why do you think you didn’t speak up more during the building process? How does this experience connect to psychological safety in healthcare? What have you learned about yourself from going through this? How do you put the house problems into perspective? Has the builder taken responsibility or apologized? What parallels do you see between this home-building experience and healthcare improvement? Why is it so hard for healthcare organizations to admit mistakes? What role does leadership play in creating safer systems? How do hobbies like glass fusing help you practice learning from mistakes? What do you mean by “the mistake you’re planning”? What gives you hope for improvement in healthcare, despite the challenges?