Episodes

  • It's Not the Workload, It's the Thought Load with Dr. Liane Davey

    It's Not the Workload, It's the Thought Load with Dr. Liane Davey
    Jul 1 2026
    How much of your team's struggle is really about the work and how much is about everything else? In this episode, Kevin talks with Dr. Liane Davey about why the real challenge many teams face isn't simply workload, but "thought load". Liane defines this as the rising cognitive demands, emotional burdens, and depleted energy reserves that make work feel heavier than it may appear. She explains how multitasking, constant urgency, oversized meetings, unclear priorities, and poor energy habits quietly drain performance and create more rework, stress, and burnout. She also shares practical ways leaders can help, including replacing urgency with true priority, creating space for focused work, taking real breaks, managing emotions rather than ignoring them, and modeling healthier boundaries. Listen For 00:00 Introduction & today's topic: thought load vs. workload 01:38 Introducing Liane Davey, the "Teamwork Doctor" 02:48 Why Liane wrote Thought Load 04:01 The big idea: it's not workload, it's thought load 05:31 Why this problem is bigger now than ever 09:13 The myth of multitasking 11:42 Sense of urgency vs. sense of priority 13:19 Busy vs. productive vs. effective 16:34 Restoring your energy: waterfalls, wells, and cracks in the cup 20:51 Why breaks are for winners, not losers 22:30 How leaders unknowingly transfer thought load to their teams 25:16 Can AI help manage thought load? 28:46 One thing organizations can do: shrink teams, strengthen communities 31:04 What Liane is reading right now 32:06 Where to find Liane and her work 33:05 Kevin's closing challenge: now what? Liane's Story: Dr. Liane Davey is a New York Times bestselling author of You First: Inspire Your Team to Grow Up, Get Along, and Get Stuff Done, The Good Fight: Use Productive Conflict to Get Your Team and Organization Back on Track, and her latest, Thoughtload: Manage the Madness and Free Your Team to Do Great Work. She is an Organizational Psychologist, CEO advisor, and sought-after keynote speaker with more than 25 years of experience researching and advising teams on how to perform at their best. Known as the "teamwork doctor," she works with teams from the frontlines to the boardroom, across industries and around the world, from Boston to Bangkok. Through her work with hundreds of teams, including 26 Global Fortune 500 companies (and counting), she has developed a practical, research-backed approach to solving the challenges that prevent teams from working effectively together. https://lianedavey.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/liane-davey-2574911/ Looking to Develop Stronger Leaders? Want help developing the leaders in your organization? Reach out to explore how the Kevin Eikenberry Group can support your team at info@kevineikenberry.com. Book Recommendations Thoughtload: Manage the Madness and Free Your Team to Do Great Work by Liane Davey You First: Inspire Your Team to Grow Up, Get Along, and Get Stuff Done by Liane Davey The Good Fight: Use Productive Conflict to Get Your Team and Organization Back on Track by Liane Davey There Are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak The Future of Work Is Grey: The Untapped Value of Age in the Workforce by Dan Pontefract The Brain Never Sleeps: Why We Dream and What It Means for Our Health by Karen van Kampen Like this? Beating Burnout at Work with Paula Davis The Burnout Epidemic with Jennifer Moss How to Break Free from Daily Burnout, Struggle Less, and Thrive More with Nataly Kogan Join Our Community If you want to view our live podcast episodes, hear about new releases, or chat with others who enjoy this podcast join one of our communities below. Join the Facebook Group Join the LinkedIn Group Leave a Review If you liked this conversation, we'd be thrilled if you'd let others know by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. Here's a quick guide for posting a review. Review on Apple: https://remarkablepodcast.com/itunes Podcast Better! Sign up with Libsyn and get up to 2 months free! Use promo code: RLP
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    34 mins
  • What Are You Worried About? - Thoughts from Kevin

    What Are You Worried About? - Thoughts from Kevin
    Jun 29 2026

    Americans spend an average of 138 minutes a day worrying — that's 35 days a year lost to "what if."

    In this episode, I share a simple three-question framework that helps you figure out which worries deserve your attention and which ones you should just let go. It's not about pretending problems don't exist. It's about spending your mental energy where it actually counts.

    The three questions:
    1. Is it a problem?
    2. Is it important?
    3. Can I change or influence the outcome?

    If the answer to any of those is no — let it go. If the answer to all three is yes — take action.

    I also cover what leaders and organizations can do to reduce worry on their teams, including how communication and feedback loops can lower anxiety and uncertainty in the workplace.

    Want more like this? Subscribe to my free weekly newsletter, Unleashing Your Remarkable Potential: https://kevineikenberry.com/newsletters

    My name is Kevin Eikenberry and I'm here to help you reach your goal as a leader and a human being with Remarkable TV and the Remarkable Leadership Podcast.

    I am also the Chief Potential Officer of The Kevin Eikenberry Group. We provide speaking, training, consulting, and coaching services to organizations who believe in investing in their most valuable assets – their people. Whether we are leading a training workshop, speaking to a group, facilitating a planning meeting, consulting with a leadership team, helping with team building, writing or developing products, our vision will be clear in everything we do – We want to be Your Leadership Help Button.

    Learn more about our offerings:

    ➡️ FREE NEWSLETTERs: Sign up for any of our newsletters: https://kevineikenberry.com/newsletters
    ➡️ BOOK: Check out my latest book, The Long-Distance Teammate: https://longdistanceteammate.com/
    ➡️ LEADERSHIP WORKSHOPS: Sign up for any of our online workshops to help you become a better leader: https://kevineikenberry.com/store/?product_type=Workshops
    ➡️ SPEAKING: Learn more about our Speaking opportunities for your next event: https://kevineikenberry.com/how-we-can-help-speaking/

    Connect with Kevin Eikenberry on Social Media:
    https://kevineikenberry.com
    https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevineikenberry
    https://instagram.com/kevineikenberry
    https://www.facebook.com/KevinEikenberryFanPage/

    About Kevin Eikenberry: Kevin Eikenberry is the Chief Potential Officer of the Kevin Eikenberry Group, a world expert on leadership development, best-selling author, sought-after speaker, popular blogger, husband and dad, a fan of Purdue athletics and antique tractors (especially John Deere's).

    About The Remarkable Leadership Podcast: The Remarkable Leadership Podcast with Kevin Eikenberry is dedicated to all things leadership. Twice a week Kevin shares his thoughts about leadership development and ideas to help you lead more confidently and make a bigger difference for those you lead. He also has weekly conversations with leadership experts discussing a wide range of topics including teamwork, organizational culture, facilitating change, personal and organizational development, human potential and more.

    Join Our Community

    If you want to view our live podcast episodes, hear about new releases, or chat with others who enjoy this podcast join one of our communities below.

    Join the Facebook Group
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    Leave a Review

    If you liked this conversation, we'd be thrilled if you'd let others know by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. Here's a quick guide for posting a review.

    Review on Apple: https://remarkablepodcast.com/itunes

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    5 mins
  • The M.A.G.I.C. Rules of Leadership with Claire Brumby

    The M.A.G.I.C. Rules of Leadership with Claire Brumby
    Jun 24 2026
    What if the way we've always led is no longer enough for the world we're leading in now? In this episode, Kevin talks with Claire Brumby about why leaders need to "forget normal" and embrace a more human and intuitive approach to leadership. Claire introduces her MAGIC framework—mindset, awakening, gumption, intuition, and charisma. She explains how each element helps leaders reconnect with who they are, challenge limiting beliefs, take meaningful action, listen to their inner wisdom, and show up with authentic confidence. Kevin and Claire discuss why mindset is the foundation for growth, how self-compassion helps leaders better understand others, and why intuition is not "woo-woo" but a practical leadership advantage when paired with strategy. Listen For 00:00 Introduction 01:43 Meet Claire Brumby 03:04 Why Claire Wrote Forget Normal, I Want Magic 04:39 Why Leadership Needs a New Framework 06:11 What MAGIC Means 07:14 Why the Five MAGIC Pillars Matter 10:53 Charisma as a Learnable Skill 14:22 Mindset and Limiting Beliefs 18:11 Sacred Self-Compassion and Awakening 20:22 Balancing Intuition and Strategy 25:12 Bringing MAGIC Into Organizations 26:34 What Claire Is Reading 27:09 Where to Learn More About Claire 29:06 Closing Claire's Story: Claire Brumby is the author of The Winning Mix and her new book, Forget Normal – I Want Magic: 5 Rules of Leadership. She is an internationally respected keynote speaker, award-winning entrepreneur, leadership coach and trainer who helps organisations and ambitious leaders unlock confidence, clarity, and high performance in a rapidly changing world. Claire founded a healthy snacking FMCG brand and grew it from a kitchen-table idea into a multi-award-winning brand, later pitching on BBC Dragons' Den. Claire is the creator of the MAGIC Framework™ (Mindset, Awakening, Gumption, Intuition and Charisma) – a modern leadership model designed to move beyond outdated, control-led ways of working and lead with courage, connection, and intuition alongside strategy. She is an ICF-trained leadership coach, NLP Practitioner and mentor. Looking to Develop Stronger Leaders? Want help developing the leaders in your organization? Reach out to explore how the Kevin Eikenberry Group can support your team at info@kevineikenberry.com. Book Recommendations The Winning Mix by Claire Brumby Forget Normal I Want Magic by Claire Brumby The Signs by Tara Swart Beyond Belief by Nir Eyal and Julie Li Like this? Understanding the Success Mindsets with Ryan Gottfredson The Mindsets That Separate the Best Leaders with Vikram Malhotra Five Mindsets to Lead Well with Paula Davis Join Our Community If you want to view our live podcast episodes, hear about new releases, or chat with others who enjoy this podcast join one of our communities below. Join the Facebook Group Join the LinkedIn Group Leave a Review If you liked this conversation, we'd be thrilled if you'd let others know by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. Here's a quick guide for posting a review. Review on Apple: https://remarkablepodcast.com/itunes Podcast Better! Sign up with Libsyn and get up to 2 months free! Use promo code: RLP
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    30 mins
  • Are You Stubborn or Persistent? - Thoughts from Kevin

    Are You Stubborn or Persistent? - Thoughts from Kevin
    Jun 22 2026

    Are you stubborn or persistent?

    At first glance, the two words seem closely related. They can describe similar behaviors and actions. But one usually feels negative, while the other feels positive.

    Most of us would rather be called persistent than stubborn. And as leaders, that distinction matters.

    In this episode, Kevin Eikenberry explains why the labels we use shape the way we see people, interact with them, and lead them. If we label someone as stubborn, we may approach them with frustration or resistance. If we label them as persistent, we may respond with more curiosity, patience, and respect.

    The reminder is simple but important: how you label people influences how you treat them. Take your labels seriously.

    In This Episode

    • Why "stubborn" and "persistent" are similar but not the same
    • How labels influence our expectations and interactions
    • Why leaders should be careful about the words they use for others
    • How choosing a different label can change your leadership approach
    • The organizational value of assuming benign intent

    Remarkable Reminder
    How you label people influences how you treat them. Take your labels seriously.

    Resources Mentioned
    Subscribe to Kevin's free weekly newsletter, Your Remarkable Day:
    https://kevineikenberry.com/newsletters
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    4 mins
  • Leading Breakthrough Strategy in Volatile Times with Rebecca Homkes

    Leading Breakthrough Strategy in Volatile Times with Rebecca Homkes
    Jun 17 2026
    How can leaders turn uncertainty, which can feel like fear, into an opportunity for growth? In this episode, Kevin sits down with Dr. Rebecca Homkes to explore why volatile times require a different approach to strategy. Rebecca explains that uncertainty is not automatically bad; it is simply a set of future events that may or may not occur. Leaders have a responsibility to help their teams reframe it as a chance to learn and grow faster. Kevin and Rebecca discuss why traditional strategy tools often assume too much certainty, how language and meeting rhythms can unintentionally push teams into protection mode, and why asking "has the situation changed?" is more useful than simply asking whether we are on track. They also explore the importance of moving from survival mode to reset mode, clarifying your right to win, and recognizing that a growth mandate is also a change mandate. Listen For 00:00 Why we hit reset to thrive in uncertain times 01:46 Meet Dr. Rebecca Homkes 03:08 Why she wrote Survive, Reset, Thrive 04:52 The big idea: uncertainty is a time to grow 05:49 What strategy is — and what never changes 08:03 Why "uncertain" doesn't have to mean "bad" 11:58 Learning velocity: the #1 differentiator 14:10 Two types of uncertainty and the paralysis trap 16:20 Planning vs. preparing 19:29 The reset: a growth mandate is a change mandate 21:00 Parallel pathing: execute while you build 23:23 Where to start 24:44 Hard resets — Starbucks, Nike, Disney 26:15 What Rebecca's reading 28:03 Where to learn more and get the book 28:38 "Now what?" — the question that matters Rebecca's Story: Dr. Rebecca Homkes is the author of Survive, Reset, Thrive: Leading Breakthrough Growth Strategy in Volatile Times. She is a high-growth strategy specialist and the founder of a boutique consultancy firm, advising CEOs and executive teams focused on growth and success through uncertainty. She is a faculty member at Duke Corporate Executive Education, Lecturer at the London Business School (LBS) Executive Education, Advisor and Faculty at BCGU (Boston Consulting Group), and previous Fellow at the London School of Economics (LSE)'s Centre for Economic Performance. Dr. Homkes is also the director of the Young President's Organization (YPO) global Active Learning Program (ALP); a former partner with GrowthX, a Silicon Valley investment ecosystem and innovation consultancy; and the faculty lead of fintech scaleup accelerators. http://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-homkes Looking to Develop Stronger Leaders? Want help developing the leaders in your organization? Reach out to explore how the Kevin Eikenberry Group can support your team. Email Us Book Recommendations Survive Reset Thrive — Rebecca Homkes Flexible Leadership — Kevin Eikenberry 1929 — Andrew Ross Sorkin Like this? The Human Side of Innovation with Mauro Porcini This is Strategy with Seth Godin Leave a Review If you liked this conversation, we'd be thrilled if you'd let others know by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. Here's a quick guide for posting a review. Review on Apple: https://remarkablepodcast.com/itunes Join Our Community If you want to view our live podcast episodes, hear about new releases, or chat with others who enjoy this podcast join one of our communities below. Join the Facebook Group Join the LinkedIn Group
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    30 mins
  • Do You Know What Your Team Wants From You?

    Do You Know What Your Team Wants From You?
    Jun 15 2026

    Last week I talked about the idea that our team members are our customers. This week, I'm taking that idea further.

    We spend a lot of time thinking about what we expect from our team. But expectations run both directions — do you know what your team expects from you?

    In this episode, I share four things that can help: thinking of your team as a customer, asking them directly what they want and need, listening without judgment, and creating a feedback loop so you can keep adjusting over time.

    If you don't know what your team wants and needs, how can you possibly deliver it to them?

    This idea is one piece of a bigger conversation I explore in my book, Flexible Leadership — about moving beyond what's comfortable so you can lead the way your team actually needs. Get your copy at https://kevineikenberry.com/flexible

    My name is Kevin Eikenberry and I'm here to help you reach your goal as a leader and a human being with Remarkable TV and the Remarkable Leadership Podcast.

    I am also the Chief Potential Officer of The Kevin Eikenberry Group. We provide speaking, training, consulting, and coaching services to organizations who believe in investing in their most valuable assets – their people. Whether we are leading a training workshop, speaking to a group, facilitating a planning meeting, consulting with a leadership team, helping with team building, writing or developing products, our vision will be clear in everything we do – We want to be Your Leadership Help Button.

    Learn more about our offerings:

    ➡️ FREE NEWSLETTERs: Sign up for any of our newsletters: https://kevineikenberry.com/newsletters
    ➡️ LEADERSHIP WORKSHOPS: Sign up for any of our online workshops to help you become a better leader: https://kevineikenberry.com/store/?product_type=Workshops
    ➡️ SPEAKING: Learn more about our Speaking opportunities for your next event: https://kevineikenberry.com/how-we-can-help-speaking/

    Connect with Kevin Eikenberry on Social Media:
    https://kevineikenberry.com
    https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevineikenberry
    https://instagram.com/kevineikenberry
    https://www.facebook.com/KevinEikenberryFanPage/

    About Kevin Eikenberry: Kevin Eikenberry is the Chief Potential Officer of the Kevin Eikenberry Group, a world expert on leadership development, best-selling author, sought-after speaker, popular blogger, husband and dad, a fan of Purdue athletics and antique tractors (especially John Deere's).

    About The Remarkable Leadership Podcast: The Remarkable Leadership Podcast with Kevin Eikenberry is dedicated to all things leadership. Twice a week Kevin shares his thoughts about leadership development and ideas to help you lead more confidently and make a bigger difference for those you lead. He also has weekly conversations with leadership experts discussing a wide range of topics including teamwork, organizational culture, facilitating change, personal and organizational development, human potential and more.
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    5 mins
  • Leadership Mental Health with Melissa Doman

    Leadership Mental Health with Melissa Doman
    Jun 10 2026
    How can leaders support their team's mental health if they ignore their own? In this episode, Kevin talks with Melissa Doman about why leadership mental health deserves more attention. Melissa explains that leaders are often expected to shoulder more responsibility, model resilience, support employee well-being, adapt to constant change, and deliver results—without the same permission or support to care for themselves. Kevin and Melissa explore the pressure leaders face, the self-sacrifice narratives they tell themselves, and why organizations must make it clear that mental health resources are for leaders, too. They also discuss practical first steps, including reflecting on what you want to share, why, whether your workplace is safe for the conversation, and how organizations can build mental health self-management into leadership development. Melissa's Story: Melissa Doman, MA, is the author of Yes, You Can Talk About Mental Health at Work (Here's Why And How To Do It Really Well), and the new title, Cornered Office: Why We Need To Talk About Leadership Mental Health. She is an Organizational Psychologist, a former Mental Health Therapist, and Founder of The Workplace Mental Health Method™. Melissa works with companies across industries and around the globe, including clients like Google, Progressive, Estée Lauder, the MLS team - Orlando City Soccer Club, Microsoft, and Salesforce. She's spoken and mentored at SXSW and has been featured as a subject matter expert in CNN, Vogue, NPR, Fast Company, the BBC, CNBC, Inc., and LinkedIn's Top 10 Voices on Mental Health. Melissa has one core goal: to equip companies, individuals, and leaders to have constructive conversations about mental health, team dynamics, and communication at work. https://www.melissadoman.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissadoman1/ https://www.instagram.com/thewanderingmel/ Looking to Develop Stronger Leaders? Want help developing the leaders in your organization? Reach out to explore how the Kevin Eikenberry Group can support your team at info@kevineikenberry.com. Book Recommendations Yes You Can Talk About Mental Health at Work — Melissa Doman Cornered Office — Melissa Doman The Righteous Mind — Jonathan Haidt Radical Respect — Kim Scott Radical Candor — Kim Scott Like this? Bringing the Art of Reflection into Your Busy Life with Joseph Badaracco How to Break Free from Daily Burnout, Struggle Less, and Thrive More with Nataly Kogan How Leaders can Connect with People and Reduce Isolation with Ryan Jenkins and Steven Van Cohen Leave a Review If you liked this conversation, we'd be thrilled if you'd let others know by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. Here's a quick guide for posting a review. Review on Apple: https://remarkablepodcast.com/itunes Join Our Community If you want to view our live podcast episodes, hear about new releases, or chat with others who enjoy this podcast join one of our communities below. Join the Facebook Group Join the LinkedIn Group
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    30 mins
  • Stop Leading Others the Way You Want to Be Led

    Stop Leading Others the Way You Want to Be Led
    Jun 8 2026

    Most leaders assume they should lead others the way they would want to be led. It sounds reasonable—but it can actually limit your effectiveness.

    In this episode, I share a different perspective: your team members are your customers. And just like customers, they may need something different from you than what you would want yourself.

    If you want to become a more effective leader, it starts by understanding what your people need, adapting your approach, and creating an environment where they can do their best work.

    One of the most powerful things a leader can do is flex their approach to meet the needs of others. When you do that, everyone wins.

    This idea is at the heart of my book, Flexible Leadership: Navigate Uncertainty and Lead with Confidence. Learn more here:
    https://kevineikenberry.com/flexible

    My name is Kevin Eikenberry and I'm here to help you reach your goal as a leader and a human being with Remarkable TV and the Remarkable Leadership Podcast.

    I am also the Chief Potential Officer of The Kevin Eikenberry Group. We provide speaking, training, consulting, and coaching services to organizations who believe in investing in their most valuable assets – their people. Whether we are leading a training workshop, speaking to a group, facilitating a planning meeting, consulting with a leadership team, helping with team building, writing or developing products, our vision will be clear in everything we do – We want to be Your Leadership Help Button.

    Learn more about our offerings:

    ➡️ FREE NEWSLETTERs: Sign up for any of our newsletters: https://kevineikenberry.com/newsletters
    ➡️ LEADERSHIP WORKSHOPS: Sign up for any of our online workshops to help you become a better leader: https://kevineikenberry.com/store/?product_type=Workshops
    ➡️ SPEAKING: Learn more about our Speaking opportunities for your next event: https://kevineikenberry.com/how-we-can-help-speaking/

    Connect with Kevin Eikenberry on Social Media:
    https://kevineikenberry.com
    https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevineikenberry
    https://instagram.com/kevineikenberry
    https://www.facebook.com/KevinEikenberryFanPage/

    About Kevin Eikenberry: Kevin Eikenberry is the Chief Potential Officer of the Kevin Eikenberry Group, a world expert on leadership development, best-selling author, sought-after speaker, popular blogger, husband and dad, a fan of Purdue athletics and antique tractors (especially John Deere's).

    About The Remarkable Leadership Podcast: The Remarkable Leadership Podcast with Kevin Eikenberry is dedicated to all things leadership. Twice a week Kevin shares his thoughts about leadership development and ideas to help you lead more confidently and make a bigger difference for those you lead. He also has weekly conversations with leadership experts discussing a wide range of topics including teamwork, organizational culture, facilitating change, personal and organizational development, human potential and more.
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    4 mins