In this first episode of the New Year 2026, host Mark Cundiff revisits a powerful conversation from a previous episode with Marianne Renner, author of 'Self-Talk: 10 Stories You Tell Yourself That Hold You Back'. Mark outlines five key takeaways for growth-minded leaders. These include the significance of self-talk, the impact of self-doubt on workplace culture, strategies to challenge negative stories, the importance of differentiating facts from personal narratives, and Marianne’s SEA...

In this episode of The Learning to Lead Show, host Mark Cundiff interviews leadership coach, trainer, and speaker Marianne Renner about her latest book, 'Self-Talk.' Marianne shares her personal journey of overcoming decades of depression and addiction by mastering her mindset and transforming her self-talk. She discusses the profound impact self-talk has on leadership and personal growth, revealing tools and strategies to change negative self-talk patterns. Through compelling sto...

In this episode of the Learning to Lead Show, host Mark Cundiff reflects on Ali Merchant's book 'The All-In Manager', and shares key insights from their previous discussion. He highlights five major takeaways for leaders: The common phenomenon of accidental managersThe importance of trust is built on care, reliability, and competence. The role of psychological safety and candor in fostering innovation.The necessity for leaders to actively seek feedback and address blind spots...

In this episode, Ali discusses the pivotal role of trust in leadership, emphasizing that without trust, nothing else matters. He shares his personal journey from growing up in a bookstore in Karachi, Pakistan, to becoming a leader and now an author of 'The All In Manager.' Ali explains the concept of an accidental manager and the importance of transitioning to an all-in manager, characterized by insatiable learning, delivering meaningful results, and caring personally for team members. ...

In this episode of the Learning to Lead Show, host Mark Cundiff reflects on his conversation with David Pennington. The discussion centers on key leadership lessons and insights from David, focusing on the importance of aligning work with passion, aiming for an 80% sweet spot in job roles, maintaining clarity and structure within organizations, adapting leadership styles to meet individual team members' needs, and ensuring a business's value isn't solely dependent on its owner. Mark summarize...

In this insightful conversation, host Mark sits down with Dave to discuss his extensive leadership journey spanning pastoral ministry, private education, and business coaching. Dave elaborates on the challenges and strategies involved in leading volunteers in nonprofit settings, emphasizing the importance of vision, communication, and relationship building. He also shares his experiences transforming small businesses by aligning roles with individual strengths and discusses the va...

In this episode of the Learning to Lead Show, host Mark Cundiff reflects on his conversation with Jim Little, a Navy veteran and reliability engineer, about important leadership lessons. Key takeaways include the importance of building trust through listening and providing feedback, the role of clear communication in driving organizational change, the balance between friendliness and leadership to avoid favoritism, and the significance of servant leadership. Jim emphasizes creati...

"Communication and Leadership: Insights from a Navy Veteran" My Conversation with Jim Little In this episode of the Learning to Lead Show, host Mark Cundiff sits down with Jim Little, a Navy veteran and senior reliability engineer with PIP company. Jim shares invaluable leadership insights drawn from his extensive career across various roles in maintenance, reliability, and safety management in industrial manufacturing. From his early days in the Navy to leading teams and driving ...

In this episode of the Learning to Lead Show, host Mark Cundiff recaps his conversation with Jeff Davis, the founder and executive director of Truth in Nature, an organization dedicated to mentoring fatherless boys across the U.S. Mark shares insights from Jeff's journey, highlighting key leadership lessons such as: The power of influenceThe importance of storytellingThe courage to follow a callingThe necessity of gratitude towards volunteers The need to stay focused on the ...

In this episode of the Learning to Lead Show, host Mark Cundiff interviews Jeff Davis, founder and executive director of Truth in Nature, a ministry focused on mentoring fatherless boys through outdoor activities. Jeff shares his journey from IT manager to leading a multi-state nonprofit, discussing the importance of influence, faith, and perseverance in leadership. The conversation highlights the impact of the ministry on both the boys and the volunteers, emphasizing the importan...

Trust, Integrity, and Frontline Leadership Insights: Reflections on my Conversation with Quenton Hodge In this episode of the Learning to Lead Show, host Mark Cundiff discusses key takeaways from Quentin Hodges' interview on effective leadership. Quentin emphasizes the importance of integrity, which he views as the core of leadership, and how it must align with one's actions both in public and private. He discusses gaining confidence through experience and taking action, rather than let...

This episode is sponsored by The Fear Trap, a book designed to help leaders navigate fear and lead with confidence. "Navigating Emotions in Leadership" Leadership Lessons from my conversation with Quentin Hodge, Part 2 In this episode of the Learning to Lead Show, host Mark Cundiff introduces longtime friend and guest Quentin Hodge, a Senior Health and Safety Professional with over 20 years of experience. Mark and Quentin discuss the importance of knowing and understanding your team, navigati...

Leadership, Trust, and Integrity: A Conversation with Quentin Hodge This episode is sponsored by The Fear Trap,a book designed to help leaders navigate fear and lead with confidence. In this episode of the Learning to Lead Show, host Mark Cundiff is joined by Quentin Hodge, a seasoned safety professional with over 20 years of experience in the field. Quentin shares his journey from being an industrial hygienist to becoming a senior health and safety professional. He discusses the importance o...

"Trust, Truth, and Leadership: A Mentorship Journey" Reflections on my Conversation with Steve Veale Download This Episode's LeaderNotes Here: LeaderNotes Get Your Free Book: The Trust Gap In this episode of the Learning to Lead Show, host Mark Cundiff discusses key insights from his conversation with Steve Veale, the executive investor of Westridge Church. Mark emphasizes the importance of pursuing mentorship relentlessly and how it contributes to becoming a healthy leader, capab...

Download This Episode's LeaderNotes Here: LeaderNotes Get Your Free Book: Free Book: The Trust Gap"The Speed of Trust: Insight on Leadership and Influence." My Conversation with Steve Veale Part 2 In this episode of the Learning to Lead Show, host Mark Cundiff continues his conversation with Steve Veale, Executive Pastor of Westridge Church in Dallas, Georgia. They discuss the critical role trust plays in organizational success, leadership, and team building. Steve emphasizes the import...

Download This Episode's Leadernotes Here: LeaderNotes Get Your Free Book: Free Book: The Trust Gap"Transforming Passion into Purpose," My Conversation with Steve Veale In this episode, host Mark Cundiff interviews Steve Veale, the Executive Pastor of Westridge Church in Northwest Atlanta. Steve shares his 28-year journey in ministry and leadership, highlighting the church's notable achievements, including the planting of over 200 churches worldwide and its ministry to families with spec...

Get Your Free Book: Free Book: The Trust Gap Leadership Reflections with Insights from Robert Owens In this episode of the Learning to Lead Show, host Mark Kiv reflects on his compelling conversation with Robert Owens, highlighting key leadership lessons from Owens' career experiences. The discussion includes overcoming adversity, such as Owens' transition from CEO to working under a hostile competitor, and persevering with humility and courage. Key takeaways include the importance o...

Grab This Episode's LeaderNotes New: Free Book: The Trust GapIn this episode of the Learning to Lead Show, host Mark interviews long-time friend and distinguished leader Robert Owens. Robert shares his journey from working at Lowe's to becoming Regional Vice President of Stratus Construction Solutions. He discusses his leadership experiences, the challenges he faced, and the key lessons he learned in both the nonprofit and business worlds. Robert emphasizes the importance of integrity...

In this episode of The Learning to Lead Show, host Mark Cundiff interviews long-time friend and leader Robert Owens. Robert shares his fascinating career and leadership journey, which began with his work at Lowe's and culminated in owning his own construction business. He offers raw insights into the challenges he faced, including the 2008 economic downturn, and how he navigated them with resilience and servant leadership. From being unexpectedly handed a company to overcoming personal and pr...

Harnessing Storytelling for Effective Leadership In this episode of the Learning to Lead Show, we reflect on the recent interview with Shon Isenhour, focusing on the power of storytelling as a leadership strategy. The discussion covers how purposeful storytelling can drive organizational change, the concept of the Valley of Despair in change initiatives, and book recommendations to further enhance storytelling skills. Key points include the distinction between mere story time and impactful st...