Lessons from Leaders with Brian Beckcom

I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Adam Christing, a humorist, keynote speaker, and author, to talk about the power of laughter, connection, and storytelling. Adam has spent four decades performing more than 4,000 humor presentations for CEOs, Fortune 500 companies, major nonprofits, and high-stakes audiences around the world. He is a member of Hollywood's iconic Magic Castle, has worked with David Copperfield, authored The Laugh Factor: The 5 Humor Tactics to Link, Lift, and Lead, and is the CEO of Clean Comedians®, a business that uses humor to bring people together rather than driving them apart. Adam is more than just a gifted public speaker and performer. He is a student of human nature. In our conversation, he explains how comedy works psychologically, why humor diffuses conflict, how it disarms resistance, and how it allows leaders to deliver truth without putting people on the defensive.  Adam also offers a brilliant blueprint for anyone who speaks publicly. Executives, trial lawyers, entrepreneurs, military leaders, and educators, can all benefit from Adam's crash course in how to grab an audience's attention and keep it. We break down how great presenters prepare, how to deal with nerves, why silence is so powerful, how to tailor your message to the room, and how storytelling can transform information into impact.  Along the way, Adam tells stories about joining the Magic Castle as a teenager, bombing on stage, learning from masters like Johnny Carson and Winston Churchill, and discovering that audiences do not want perfection - they want presence. He also explains why the boundaries of "clean comedy" actually make comedy more creative, why leaders should practice humor like a skill, and why audiences always root for the person at the microphone. This episode is about leadership, persuasion, communication, and how to connect through humour. It is also full of laughs. I invite you to listen to the full conversation and learn how humor can help you become a better leader, speaker, and storyteller. And now I give you, Adam Christing.  

I recently had the pleasure of chatting with Rev. Hunt Priest, an Episcopal priest who openly shares how psilocybin (magic mushrooms) transformed his faith and ministry. Hunt took part in a groundbreaking Johns Hopkins/NYU study where clergy explored psychedelics, and the experience reshaped and reinvigorated his spiritual life. In our conversation, Hunt shares how partaking in the study expanded his understanding of Christianity, deepened his relationship with God, and challenged him to rethink how the church approaches healing. For Hunt, psychedelics became not just an altered state of consciousness, but a doorway into mystical experience, emotional wholeness, and spiritual renewal. Out of that calling, he founded Ligare - a Christian Psychedelic Society. Through education, retreats, and spiritual direction, Hunt and his team are creating supportive communities for Christians to wrestle with big questions: How can psychedelics help us heal? What role do they play in faith today? And what does it mean for the church to reclaim its historic role in health and wholeness? I invite you to listen to this fascinating conversation, where we explore theological history, modern science, and the intersections of mental health, psychedelics and spirituality. And now I give you, Hunt Priest.

I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Greg Vetter, a charismatic entrepreneur and storyteller best known for turning his mom's salad dressing into a $300 million brand - before losing it all. In this episode, we talk about what it really takes to build, and rebuild, a business from the ground up. Greg is a high-energy and insightful founder who co-created Tessemae's with his brothers, which became the leading organic salad dressing company in the U.S. through relentless hard work, in-store demos, and an authentic origin story that resonated with millions. Greg has gone on to found multiple ventures across food, beverage, and manufacturing, and now coaches CEOs and high-performers, helping them lean into their instincts and navigate the emotional rollercoaster of entrepreneurship. He's also the author of Undressed : The Unfiltered Story of My Failed American Dream and How It Led to Success. In our conversation, we examine the mindset it takes to succeed in business - touching on trusting your gut, storytelling, hard work, and what happens when things fall apart. Greg opens up about the painful unraveling of his company due to investor conflict, and the lessons that came from losing it all. We also talk about how sports prepared us for the pressures of public wins and losses, and how learning to let go of control can unlock surprising growth. I invite you to listen to the full conversation on building something meaningful, and surviving when it breaks. And now I give you, Greg Vetter.  

I recently sat down with Pankaj Singh, a mindfulness and leadership expert. In this episode, we talk about how mindfulness can make you not just a better leader, but a better person. It was a pleasure chatting to Pankaj, a multi-faceted and dynamic individual known for redefining leadership through mindfulness practices. He has extensive experience in business as an engineer and notably steered National Auto Care through a ransomware attack within 48 hours as their Chief Technology Officer.  Pankaj has been a lifelong practitioner of mindfulness after studying with a lama at the age of 14, and has developed The Ascendancy Action™ System and Mindful Leadership Mastery Compass™ to give leaders practical tools that help them become calmer, more confident, and more well-rounded.  In our conversation, we dive deep into meditation and mindfulness, getting actionable advice on how to implement mindfulness in the boardroom, as well as everyday life. We also get into the more esoteric aspects of mindfulness, like becoming the observer, and learning to sit with the uncomfortable loudness of our thoughts.  I invite you to listen to the full conversation on becoming a better leader through mindful practices. And now I give you, Pankaj Singh.  

I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Rob Roy, a Navy veteran, former member of SEAL Team Six, and the founder and CEO of Trident Coaching and Consulting. Rob brings decades of experience in elite military operations and leadership development, and his personal journey—from a difficult upbringing in Milwaukee to the pinnacle of America's special operations community—is nothing short of extraordinary. In our conversation, Rob opens up about his time in the SEALs, the intense mental and physical challenges of BUD/S training, and what it was like to serve among the most elite warriors in the world. He shares hard-earned wisdom on resilience, leadership, and self-mastery, the transition from life inside SEAL Team Six to coaching high performers in the civilian world, and much more. I invite you to listen to the full conversation, where we explore grit, growth, and the mindset of excellence. And now I give you, Rob Roy.

In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Steve Cadigan, the HR leader who helped scale LinkedIn from 400 to 4,000 employees in just four years. Steve shares how his passion for team dynamics and workplace culture fueled this explosive growth and shaped LinkedIn's early success. We also discuss why prioritizing culture over salaries matters, the value of hiring for potential rather than experience, and how aligning employee goals with company impact creates a thriving workforce. I invite you to listen to the full conversation on building teams that drive innovation and success. And now I give you, Steve Cadigan.

I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Anders Indset, a Norwegian philosopher widely known as "The Business Philosopher." Recognized for his pioneering work at the intersection of philosophy, economics, and technology, Anders is also a renowned author whose books have appeared on international bestseller lists. His latest book, The Viking Code: The Art and Science of Norwegian Success, explores how Norway's values can create a culture of success for individuals and society.  I invite you to listen to the full conversation, as we discuss topics like philosophy, quantum mechanics, technology, consciousness, and more. And now I give you, Anders Indset.

In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Bishoy Tadros. Born in Egypt, Bishoy's family moved to the United States when he was three years old after he received a cancer diagnosis. He underwent intermittent treatment for 10 years. On his 13th birthday, he had brain surgery for a blood clot and was later given a clear medical report. Despite his childhood battles with cancer, he was determined to reach his full potential as an adult. Bishoy is the author of Break Barriers: How Setbacks Can Dare You Rather Than Define You and Audacious: Uncaging Your Authentic Self. He also hosts the Mile 40 Podcast. In this show, we discuss overcoming obstacles, what it takes to mentally overcome that voice in your head that says you can't do the things you want to do, how to be an athlete later in life, and so much more. And now I give you, Bishoy Tadros.

In this episode, Brian speaks with Robert Ingalls. Mr. Ingalls is a former practicing lawyer, professional speaker, and the founder of LawPods, a company specifically designed to help busy professionals start their own podcasts. In the episode, Brian and Robert talk about how to start your own podcast, the "why" of your podcast, how to come up with a good name for your podcast, the type of equipment and software he recommends, how to market and spread your podcast, and more. If you've ever considered starting your own podcast but don't know where to begin, then this is the show for you. And now I give you, Robert Ingalls.  

This podcast episode holds an even deeper significance in light of Jim Goldsmith's passing. His wisdom and passion for his faith, family, and friends remain timeless, serving as a reminder of his enduring legacy. As we revisit this conversation, we celebrate and honor his remarkable life, ensuring that his spirit lives on through the stories and lessons he shared with us. Jim fought a brave battle with cancer over the past 5 years. At the time of the podcast, Jim was given less than 6 months to live. These are the topics we discussed: The most meaningful experiences of Jim's life How the terminal diagnosis changed his perspective on what is important and what is not The biggest challenges Jim faced His advice for people facing a similar terminal diagnosis The advice Jim would give his younger self How Jim's faith equipped him to face the prospect of death What Jim hoped to accomplish in his remaining months How Jim wants to be remembered by his wife, kids, and friends And a lot more. Talking about death and dying is hard for most people. But listening to Jim Goldsmith tell his story will change your entire perspective on what it means to live a good life and to die a good death. And now, in honor of Jim Goldsmith, we reflect on his impact on all of us.