

Deep Leadership
Jon S. Rennie
“Leadership is a People Business.” That's the philosophy of this leadership podcast from Jon Rennie. It's real-world, actionable advice from Jon as well as his expert guests. As a former Cold War Submarine Officer who spent 22 years leading businesses in Corporate America before starting his own manufacturing business, he knows that leadership matters!
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 18, 2026 • 37min
#0425 – Great at Your Job? That Doesn’t Mean You’re a Great Leader with Dr. Peter James
What happens when your best performer becomes your worst leader?
In this episode of Deep Leadership, I sit down with Dr. Peter James, President and CEO of HCG Strategic Partners, to unpack one of the most common (and costly) mistakes organizations make: promoting great individual contributors into leadership roles without preparing them to lead.
Peter brings a rare perspective shaped by leadership in the military, corporate America, and higher education. Together, we break down why being great at your job doesn’t automatically make you a great leader—and what actually does.
We dive into:
Why top performers often struggle when they step into leadership
The critical role of self-awareness in leading others
Why most leaders don’t realize they’re failing
The importance of having someone who will hold you accountable
How organizations can better prepare people for leadership roles
What it takes to build a culture that can adapt and thrive in constant change
If you’ve ever been promoted (or are about to be), this conversation will challenge how you think about leadership—and give you practical ways to get better.
Connect with Peter:
Website: https://hcgstrategies.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drpeterajames/
Book: Every Day Is A Monday - https://amzn.to/3QMUJid
Subscribe to Deep Leadership:If you’re serious about becoming a better leader, hit subscribe and join us as we work to build a world with better bosses.
Sponsors:
Cadre of Men
Farrow Skin Care
Salty Sailor Coffee Company
Leader Connect
The Qualified Leadership Series
____
Get all of Jon Rennie's bestselling leadership books for 15% off the regular price today! HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 11, 2026 • 40min
#0424 – Broken Trust: How Great Leaders Fix It with Dr. Darryl Stickel
Broken Trust: How Great Leaders Fix It
Trust is at some of the lowest levels we’ve ever seen—and leaders are paying the price.
In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Darryl Stickel to unpack what trust really is, why it’s collapsing in today’s uncertain world, and how great leaders rebuild it inside their teams.
We talk about the real definition of trust (it’s not what you think), why confidence without certainty destroys credibility, and how leaders can create “pockets of excellence” even in broken organizations.
If you’re leading in a time of uncertainty—and let’s be honest, we all are—this conversation will give you practical tools to build trust, strengthen your team, and become a leader worth following.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
Why trust is the foundation of every high-performing team
The hidden reason trust is breaking down in organizations today
How uncertainty and vulnerability shape every leadership decision
The three drivers of trust: benevolence, integrity, and ability
How to build trust even if your organization is struggling
Simple ways to show your team you “have their back”
About Dr. Darryl Stickel:
Dr. Darryl Stickel is a leading expert on trust and the author of Building Trust: Exceptional Leadership in an Uncertain World. He helps leaders and organizations understand how trust works—and how to build it when it matters most.
Resources & Links:
🌐 Website: https://trustunlimited.com
📘 Book: Building Trust https://amzn.to/3OgMzhe
🎧 Previous episode with Darryl: (Episode 118) https://jonsrennie.com/2022/05/12/deep-leadership-episode-118-building-trust-with-darryl-stickel/
If you want to become a leader worth following, start by building trust.
👍 Like, subscribe, and share this episode to help us build a world with better bosses.
Sponsors:
Cadre of Men
Farrow Skin Care
Salty Sailor Coffee Company
Leader Connect
The Qualified Leadership Series
____
Get all of Jon Rennie's bestselling leadership books for 15% off the regular price today! HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 5, 2026 • 38min
#0423 – Claim Authority First – Then Figure It Out with Tom Kubiniec
What if you didn’t wait for permission… and just claimed authority?
In this episode of the Deep Leadership podcast, I sit down with Tom Kubiniec, President and CEO of Securit Tactical, who built multiple successful companies without a degree, corporate experience, or a traditional playbook.
Tom shares how he carved out a leadership position in an industry that had no clear expert—and why sometimes the fastest way forward is to step up, take ownership, and back it up with action.
We also dig into:
Why simplicity beats complexity in business
How to become the “leading authority” in your space
The hiring mistake that holds companies back
Why great leaders fire fast and decide faster
How to create a culture that scales as you grow
The power of communication and presence in leadership
This is a conversation about bold thinking, decisive action, and leading with confidence—even when you don’t have all the answers.
If you’re an entrepreneur, leader, or someone looking to level up, this episode will challenge how you think about authority, growth, and success.
Tom Kubiniec's Resource:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomkubiniec/
https://www.secureitgunstorage.com/
Sponsors:
Cadre of Men
Farrow Skin Care
Salty Sailor Coffee Company
Leader Connect
The Qualified Leadership Series
____
Get all of Jon Rennie's bestselling leadership books for 15% off the regular price today! HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 27, 2026 • 36min
#0422 – Crisis Is Coming. Are You Ready? With Stephanie Craig
Crisis Is Coming. Are You Ready?
Every leader will face a crisis. The question is whether you’ll be prepared—or caught off guard.
In this episode of Deep Leadership, I sit down with Stephanie Craig, President of Kith, to talk about what most leaders get wrong about crisis management—and how to fix it before it’s too late.
Stephanie shares why crisis preparedness is a mindset, not a checklist, and how trust, clarity, and communication determine whether your organization survives—or comes out stronger.
We also dive into:
Why most companies treat crisis prep like a “check-the-box” exercise
The difference between your brand and your reputation (and why it matters)
How to build trust before a crisis hits
Real-world examples of companies that turned potential disasters into wins
Practical ways small and mid-sized businesses can prepare without massive budgets
If you lead a team, run a business, or want to become a better leader—this is a conversation you can’t afford to miss.
Connect with Stephanie Craig:🌐 Website: https://kith.co📊 Crisis Resilient 365: https://crisisresilient365.com💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craigstephanie/
Sponsors:
Cadre of Men
Farrow Skin Care
Salty Sailor Coffee Company
Leader Connect
The Qualified Leadership Series
____
Get all of Jon Rennie's bestselling leadership books for 15% off the regular price today! HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 21, 2026 • 38min
#0421 – Stop Fixing Problems - Do This Instead with George Pesansky
Stop Fixing Problems!
Most leaders are trained to hunt problems, fix issues, and eliminate failure. But what if that mindset is actually limiting performance?
In this episode, Jon sits down with George Pesansky, author of Super Performance, to challenge the way we think about leadership, operations, and improvement. Instead of obsessing over what’s broken, George explains how the best leaders identify what’s working—and then scale it.
You’ll learn:
Why focusing on failure holds teams back
The concept of the “Golden Hour” and how to replicate peak performance
How leaders unknowingly create a culture of mediocrity
Why your best people may be holding back (and how to unlock them)
A better way to drive consistent, high-level results
If you want to build a high-performing team, it starts with changing what you pay attention to.
George Pesansky's resources:
https://georgepesansky.com/
https://myblendedlearning.com/
https://amzn.to/4lJm4gU
Sponsors:
Cadre of Men
Farrow Skin Care
Salty Sailor Coffee Company
Leader Connect
The Qualified Leadership Series
____
Get all of Jon Rennie's bestselling leadership books for 15% off the regular price today! HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 14, 2026 • 36min
#0420 – The Success Trap: Why High Achievers Feel Empty at the Top with Keren Eldad
The Success Trap: Why High Achievers Feel Empty at the Top
Success is supposed to make you happy… so why do so many high achievers feel trapped?
In this episode of the Deep Leadership podcast, I talk with executive coach and author Keren Eldad about the hidden emotional cost of ambition. We explore why success and happiness often move in opposite directions, how leaders unknowingly build a “gilded cage,” and why perfectionism, hustle culture, and chasing the wrong goals can leave even the most accomplished people feeling empty.
Keren shares practical insights on breaking free from the relentless pursuit of more, rethinking success, and leading from purpose instead of pressure.
If you’re a leader, entrepreneur, or high performer who feels like your ladder might be leaning against the wrong wall, this conversation will challenge how you think about success.
Learn more about Keren Eldad and her book Gilded https://amzn.to/4bqmRPaSubscribe to Deep Leadership for more conversations that help build a world with better bosses
Sponsors:
Cadre of Men
Farrow Skin Care
Salty Sailor Coffee Company
Leader Connect
The Qualified Leadership Series
____
Get all of Jon Rennie's bestselling leadership books for 15% off the regular price today! HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 7, 2026 • 32min
#0419 – The Confidence Trap: Why Great Performers Choke Under Pressure with Scott Papek
The Confidence Trap: Why Great Performers Choke Under Pressure
Why do talented athletes, leaders, and entrepreneurs sometimes lose confidence in the moments that matter most?
In this episode of the Deep Leadership Podcast, I sit down with mindset coach Scott Papek to explore why even high performers struggle with pressure, overthinking, and self-doubt. Scott works with athletes from middle school through college, helping them build the mental skills needed to compete with confidence.
Together they discuss how confidence is actually trained, why negative self-talk and fear of judgment sabotage performance, and how focusing on effort instead of outcomes can dramatically improve results.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
• Why confidence comes from preparation and belief• The real reason people choke under pressure• How self-talk impacts performance• Why worrying about what others think kills confidence• How athletes train their minds to perform at their best
If you want to perform better under pressure, whether in sports, business, or leadership, this episode is for you.
Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, mindset, and building better teams.
Scott Papek's Resources:
https://www.maxoutmindset.com/
Sponsors:
Cadre of Men
Farrow Skin Care
Salty Sailor Coffee Company
Leader Connect
The Qualified Leadership Series
____
Get all of Jon Rennie's bestselling leadership books for 15% off the regular price today! HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 28, 2026 • 39min
#0418 – If You Only Hear Good News, You’re Failing as a Leader with Phillip Wilson
If you’re a leader and you only hear good news, you may have a bigger problem than you think.
In this episode of the Deep Leadership podcast, I sit down with Phillip Wilson, CEO of LRI Consulting Services and author of The Leader-Shift Playbook, to talk about one of the most overlooked leadership blind spots: power distance.
Why don’t employees speak up?Why do teams hide mistakes?Why does bad news travel slowly… or not at all?
We unpack the concept of approachability, the hidden cost of wide power distance, and what Phil calls the “hero assumption” — the mindset shift that transforms how leaders see their people.
If you want more honest feedback, stronger trust, and a team that tells you the truth before problems explode, this conversation is for you.
Phillip Wilson's resources:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/pbwilson/
https://yourleadershift.com/
https://amzn.to/4rAXDEq
Subscribe for more conversations focused on building a world with better bosses.
Sponsors:
Cadre of Men
Farrow Skin Care
Salty Sailor Coffee Company
Leader Connect
The Qualified Leadership Series
____
Get all of Jon Rennie's bestselling leadership books for 15% off the regular price today! HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 22, 2026 • 36min
#0417 – When the Mission Fails: 5 Timeless Values Every Leader Must Live with Andy Crocker
What do you do when the mission fails?
In this episode of Deep Leadership, I sit down with aerospace executive Andy Crocker to talk about what happens when a career-defining project collapses. After competing against SpaceX and Blue Origin for NASA’s Human Landing System, Andy and his team lost the contract — not once, but twice.
For many leaders, that kind of loss can shake your identity.
Instead of walking away bitter, Andy stepped back and asked a harder question: Who am I without the mission?
That reflection led him to write The Unconditionals, a book built around five timeless values every leader must live:
Love (yes, even in high-performance environments)
Gratitude
Integrity
Accountability
Endeavor
We talk about why values aren’t “soft skills,” how trust is built and rebuilt, what accountability really means, and why humanity is more important than ever in the age of AI.
If you’ve ever faced failure, questioned your leadership, or wondered what truly holds high-performing teams together, this conversation is for you.
Leadership is a people business. And when everything falls apart, values are what keep you standing.
🎯 Get Andy’s book: https://andycrockerbooks.com/
🎙 Subscribe for more conversations with top leaders
🔔 Share this episode to help us build a world with better bosses
Until next time — lead well.
Sponsors:
Cadre of Men
Farrow Skin Care
Salty Sailor Coffee Company
Leader Connect
The Qualified Leadership Series
____
Get all of Jon Rennie's bestselling leadership books for 15% off the regular price today! HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 14, 2026 • 38min
#0416 – The Hidden Reason High Achievers Struggle in Marriage with Gabriela Embon
Are you winning at work but quietly struggling at home?
In this episode of Deep Leadership, I sit down with Gabriela Embon, author of Becoming a Power Couple, to talk about why high achievers often succeed in their careers but fail to invest in the most important partnership of their lives.
We discuss:
Why work-life balance is a myth for driven leaders
The difference between balance and integration
How to think of your marriage as a co-founded enterprise
The 4 Pillars that build resilient, high-performance relationships
Why your relationship is the infrastructure behind your leadership
If you’re a founder, executive, entrepreneur, or ambitious professional, this conversation will challenge how you think about success. Because leadership doesn’t start at the office. It starts at home.
Your marriage should be an asset, not a liability.
Listen in and learn how to build a power couple that multiplies impact instead of dividing energy.
Subscribe for more conversations that help you build a world with better bosses.
Learn more from Gabriela Embon here:
https://gabrielaembon.com/
https://amzn.to/4tA6ZBP
https://gabrielaembon.com/prologue-becoming-a-power-couple/
Subscribe for more powerful leadership conversations!
Sponsors:
Cadre of Men
Farrow Skin Care
Salty Sailor Coffee Company
Leader Connect
The Qualified Leadership Series
____
Get all of Jon Rennie's bestselling leadership books for 15% off the regular price today! HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices


