Be Worth* Following

What if leadership is about more than just getting things done? Stephen "Shed" Shedletzky joins us on this episode of the Be Worth* Following podcast to talk about it. Along the way, Shed shares the three characteristics he sees present in every successful leader. He also digs into his perspective on leadership success over the long-term, the power of listening, and the compelling story connected to his grandfather and World War II that inspires his work today. Additional resources can be found HERE.

Retired Lieutenant Colonel and former Green Beret Scott Mann spent his career building trust in places where trust was scarce. Today he's an author, playwright, and actor who brings all of his humanity to help us find—and lead with—ours. In this episode, you'll hear the gut-wrenching story that inspired Mann's latest book, Nobody is Coming to Save You. You'll also get a sneak peek into the upcoming premiere of his play, 11 Days: The Story of Operation Pineapple Express. Join us for this episode of the Be Worth* Following podcast as Scott Mann guides us through leadership lessons from the battlefields of Afghanistan to the battlefields within our own minds and hearts. Click HERE to explore additional episode details, including show notes, time-stamped chapters, and resources to help you dive deeper into our conversation.

David Mead — Leading with un(Common) Sense We all know the leaders we love to follow—and the ones we simply have to. What's the difference? In this conversation, Tim sits down with speaker and author David Mead to dig into the human qualities that set great leaders apart. David introduces the simple yet transformative framework at the heart of his new book, Lead with (un)Common Sense, offering practical ways to lead with honesty, humility, and humanity every day. This episode is an invitation to lead from who you are, not just what you do. 🎧 Click here to visit our website page for David Mead's episode. There you'll find show notes, time-stamped chapters, and additional resources to help you explore the ideas from our conversation more deeply. You can also learn more about David's work, writing, and leadership insights featured in his upcoming book, Lead with (un)Common Sense, releasing soon.

Mike Matheny — Seeing Leadership as a Gift He caught thousands of pitches over 13 Major League seasons and went on to manage both the St. Louis Cardinals and Kansas City Royals. Today, Mike Matheny is an author and executive coach helping leaders thrive in business. In this episode of the Be Worth* Following podcast, Mike and host Tim Spiker talk about the connection between leadership in the clubhouse, in the boardroom, and in life. 🎧 Listen now to hear insights from a leader who knows what it means to build trust, handle pressure, and lead with perspective. Additional Resources can be found on the Be Worth* Following Podcast Website.

Colonel Art Athens joins the Be Worth* Following podcast to share his insights on all things leadership, especially the cultivation of talent. And to be sure, he's sharing with us from a wealth of experience. Over the course of more than 30 years in the Marine Corps, Colonel Athens held command and staff assignments across all four Marine Aircraft Wings. He also served as an instructor and Academic Dean for the Marine Corps’ equivalent to the Navy’s “Top Gun” school. Following his military career, he became the Naval Academy’s first Distinguished Military Professor of Leadership and later served for over a decade as the Director of the Stockdale Center for Ethical Leadership. He also served as Commandant of Midshipmen at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and was selected as a White House Fellow under President Ronald Reagan. In this episode, you’ll discover why Colonel Athens talks about Dixie cups and crystal glasses in relation to leading well. You’ll see how attending a rainy high school soccer game significantly shifted one of his relationships up the chain of command. And you’ll hear why benches and bullpens are important concepts in how we think about developing those we lead. Notable links: Guest: Colonel Art Athens: https://www.linkedin.com/in/art-athens-b210559/ Host: Tim Spiker: https://www.theaperio.com/tim-spiker The Only Leaders Worth* Following video series on Right Now Media: https://www.theaperio.com/right-now-media-series The Only Leaders Worth* Following book https://tinyurl.com/TOLWFbook The Only Leaders Worth Following book Discussion Guide: https://www.theaperio.com/discussion-guide-the-only-leaders-worth-following The Aperio: https://www.theaperio.com/

Every year in March, the Be Worth* Following podcast gets its leadership lessons from the world of college basketball. And boy do we have a great one for you this year. Purdue University’s Matt Painter joins us to talk about his leadership of one the nation’s most successful men’s basketball programs. When you look at the success Matt and Purdue have had, you might be tempted to think he has always confidently trusted his instincts. And you’d be wrong. Join us for a behind the scenes conversation with one of the nation’s best coaches.

In this episode of Be Worth* Following, Will Graham takes us inside a reality many leaders wrestle with but few openly discuss—workplace dysfunction. Once a sharp critic of workplace culture, Will unexpectedly found himself in a leadership role, facing the very challenges he had spent years analyzing. That experience, along with a near-burnout moment, reshaped his understanding of leadership, productivity, and the power of aligning people with the work that fuels them. His journey—from frustration to insight—offers a compelling look at what it really takes to make work better. Click Here for a Free Copy (+ shipping) of Will Graham's book, Make Work Better

We've added to our subscriber list over the past two years. That means there are some great episodes that some of you have missed. So to finish up 2024 on the Be Worth* Following podcast, we are doing a throwback episode from October 2022. That's when we got to visit with Tria Deibert. As the Vice President of Culture at Hackensack Meridian Health, Tria says that her job sets her soul on fire, and that she’s using the position to help others find the same excitement. Tria never expected to end up in the culture field. Her background is in marketing, but a leader saw potential in her, and she decided to take a big, bold leap. In this episode, Tria shares how her marketing experience enables her to use meaningful messaging to engage and inspire people in her organization. Listen in to learn more about how to elicit authentic buy-in and hear how that strengthens an organization from the inside out. When people genuinely love their work, they are able to achieve more and help businesses grow. How do we know this? Just give Tria a listen.

In this episode of the Be Worth* Following Podcast, host Tim Spiker welcomes back for his second appearance on the show psychologist Jason Cochran. Together they take a deep dive into Jason’s original work on the four principles of connection in the workplace. This thoughtful discussion explores the strategic advantages of connection at work and includes practical applications that leaders can engage in immediately to increase connection at work for everyone they lead.

Tim Spiker hosts Chad Johnson on the Be Worth Following Podcast, discussing how unique abilities can significantly boost leadership effectiveness. Chad, a successful entrepreneur and coach, emphasizes identifying and honing these abilities in oneself and others to create maximum value and impact. Reflecting on his own journey from homeschooling and early inspirations like Zig Ziglar to his current role with Strategic Coach, Chad shares how understanding and leveraging unique abilities has transformed his approach to leadership and personal growth. He also delves into the importance of applying these principles at home, advocating for leadership development around the dinner table to raise confident, capable, and inwardly sound individuals. The conversation underscores the importance of proactive, self-directed development and the potential to extend these transformative leadership practices beyond the workplace into family life.

An eye-opening episode of the Be Worth Following Podcast! Dr. Brent Fessler, Principal at Integreaters, shares what it looks like for leaders to prioritize the flourishing of their employees and company culture. Dr. Brent is an integrator, which means he helps organizations integrate values, purpose, organizational change, and character development. In this episode, Brent shares about an idea called trauma informed leadership, explores what it looks like to value employee flourishing, and talks about how to get company values off the walls and into the people. Additional Resources can be found on the Be Worth* Following Podcast Website.

In this episode of the Be Worth* Following podcast, host Tim Spiker sits down with Bennett Bratt, author of The Team Discovered and former Vice President of HR Talent and Organizational Capability at T-Mobile. Bennett's extensive experience has led him to develop a perspective on teams and leadership that challenges the status quo. In this discussion, Bennett shares stories and insights that will invite you rethink how teams work. If you've ever wondered what really drives team success, this episode promises to offer fresh, thought-provoking viewpoints that just might change the way you approach both leading teams and being an effective team member.

In this episode of the Be Worth* Following podcast, Christopher O'Reilly, an executive team member at the internationally-renowned Onsite Partners and leader of Milestones, joins host Tim Spiker for an insightful exploration of the intersection between mental health and leadership. Drawing from his extensive clinical experience, Christopher delves into the hidden pitfalls of multitasking and the transformative power of simply being present. He also shares a practical method for leaders to check in on their mental well-being, which simultaneously improves relationships and increases self-awareness. Tune in to discover how even small steps in nurturing your mental health can elevate your leadership effectiveness.

In this episode of the Be Worth Following podcast, Christi Gordy, Founder and Executive Director of Canopy Life International, joins host Tim Spiker to share about her leadership of the organization. Canopy Life Academy is a boarding school dedicated to empowering vulnerable Kenyan children by equipping them with leadership skills, critical thinking, and innovation, aiming to lead their communities out of poverty. Christi shares key moments that impacted her leadership approach, highlighting the importance of understanding one’s purpose, the transformative power of embracing one's identity, and the challenges and achievements of leading a nonprofit from thousands of miles away. Christi's story is a testament to the power of visionary leadership, the importance of being inwardly sound and others-focused, and the impact of nurturing the next generation of leaders through empathy, understanding, and innovative education. Additional Resources can be found on the Be Worth* Following Podcast Website.

On the latest episode of the Be Worth* Following podcast, Tim sits down with Bart Wear, a former CEO whose leadership is anchored in the care of people. Throughout his career in industrial construction, Bart held firm to the belief that kindness and fairness should be the cornerstones of leadership. Even in moments of accountability, his approach was rooted in empathy and understanding. For Bart, "fair is fair for everybody," and this mantra guided every decision he made. But Bart's leadership journey didn't end with his retirement from construction. In fact, it took on a whole new meaning with his involvement in Homes of Hope, an organization dedicated to transforming shipping containers into vital facilities like schools and medical clinics for underserved communities worldwide. Join us as Bart shares his personal mission of esteeming, encouraging, and loving others—a mission that transcends industries and continues to make a profound impact on the lives of those around him. Get ready to be inspired and uplifted by Bart's extraordinary dedication to making the world a better place, one act of kindness at a time. Tune in now! Additional Resources can be found on the Be Worth* Following Podcast Website.

On this episode of the Be Worth* Following podcast, Dr. Erik Hoekstra, President at Dordt University, joins Tim to share his perspectives on leadership in the unique context of a small Christian univeristy. It’s clear immediately that Erik’s deep faith has informed and shaped his approach to leadership. He believes in a human approach to leadership, not a utilitarian one, and is always eager to work back to this center when he gets off track. Erik is passionate about keeping himself accessible to his workers and students, inviting feedback, and pressing into equal parts humility and charisma. Additional Resources can be found on the Be Worth* Following Podcast Website.

Mark Miller joins the Be Worth* Following Podcast for the second time to share about his new book, Uncommon Greatness. Since Mark retired from Chick Fil A he has made it his second-half-of-life mission to develop extraordinary leaders. Uncommon greatness comes from uncommon leadership, characterized by a focus on others and a commitment to fundamental actions. On the podcast he shares what it looks like to make this shift to uncommon greatness and why the practical and fundamental must go together. Additional Resources can be found on the Be Worth* Following Podcast Website.

In this episode of the Be Worth* Following Podcast, we meet Coach John Beilein, a winning coach who was "forced" into a position of growth later in his career. Coach Beilein didn’t allow his previous success to preempt changes that were needed to help his team succeed. He humbly embraced the opportunity to grow and develop. Coach Beilein’s philosophy of leadership is now anchored by his values, and focusing on relationships before results. Listen to hear why he prioritizes connection and the profound impact it has had on his coaching. Additional Resources can be found on the Be Worth* Following Podcast Website.

We love March Madness at The Aperio. Every March Tim Spiker, a former college basketball player at Purdue and Washington University, hosts conversations with basketball colleagues and coaches who share their leadership experiences from the world of sports. On this episode of the Be Worth* Following Podcast, former professional basketball player and college coach Cuonzo Martin—aka “Zo”—shares the life experiences that led to his passion for basketball, coaching, leadership . . . and helping young people in his community. Additional Resources can be found on the Be Worth* Following Podcast Website.

When it comes to leadership development, we often look for the “silver bullet”—what is the next tool or technique that can help me become a better leader? The reality is there is no silver bullet, no tip or technique that can enable exceptional leadership. In this episode of the Be Worth* Following podcast, Peter Anderton, executive coach, and keynote speaker, reminds us of some simple truths about leadership that have been around for millenia. He shares these as two rules he believes every leader should know in order to remove the “training wheels” of their leadership and truly impact their teams . . . and the bottom line. Additional Resources can be found on the Be Worth* Following Podcast Website.