In her wildly popular TED Talk , Angela Duckworth shares why grit- more than talent, IQ or luck - is a powerful predictor of success. Angela has explored the correlation between grit and achievement in settings like West Point, the National Spelling Bee, and New York City public school system. Her book Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance , has appeared on the New York Times bestseller list for 34 weeks. We talk about how grit can be learned, how to discover what we are passionate about, ...
May 02, 2019•37 min•Ep. 63
Author and leadership expert Michael Hyatt shares his personal productivity framework in his new book, Free to Focus. Productivity isn’t about getting more things done at a faster speed; it’s about getting the right things done. On this episode, Michael shares how we can free up our schedules for the people and projects that matter most. Learn how to eliminate distractions, set boundaries that protect your focus, and redefine your work so it works for you.
Apr 18, 2019•41 min
Called “the most inspirational data geek you’ll ever meet,” Marcus Buckingham is re-defining the future of work. After spending nearly two decades as a senior researcher at Gallup and then starting his own company, Marcus now guides the vision of ADP Research Institute as Co-Head and Talent Expert. In his new book, Nine Lies About Work , Marcus challenges our assumptions about organizations, talent and high performance. We talk about the myths behind many of our common beliefs about work and lea...
Apr 04, 2019•53 min•Ep. 61
Less than six years ago, University of Buffalo men’s basketball coach Nate Oats was teaching math and coaching high school basketball in Detroit. Fast forward to today and he is one of the hottest coaches in college basketball, leading the Buffalo Bulls to three NCAA tournament appearances in four seasons as head coach. On this episode, we talk about his unconventional rise to the top of the coaching world, managing the expectations that come with success, and how he’s been able to build a winni...
Mar 21, 2019•39 min•Ep. 60
As the CEO of the Oakland Raiders, Amy Trask served as the highest-ranking female executive in the NFL. Today she’s a football analyst for CBS Sports and serves as Chairman of the Board of Ice Cube’s BIG3. In her book, “You Negotiate Like a Girl,” Amy reflects on her career in the NFL and the leadership lessons she learned on her journey. We talk about how she carved her own path from intern to CEO, her approach to negotiating, and why she never paid attention to gender despite often being the o...
Mar 07, 2019•35 min•Ep. 59
Celeste Headlee’s TED Talk “ 10 ways to have a better conversation ” has been viewed more than 17 million times. She’s an award-winning journalist and the author of We Need To Talk – How To Have Conversations That Matter . On this episode, Celeste shares the simple communication tools she's learned through her research and job as a public radio host interviewing hundreds of guests. Her smart strategies are a guide to have more effective, more meaningful conversations at work and in our personal ...
Feb 21, 2019•39 min
As a college football player, Inky Johnson dreamed of playing in the NFL to make a better life for his family. Inky was on the way to achieving his dream when an injury changed everything. What should have been a routine tackle led to a life-threatening injury that ended his football career and permanently paralyzed his right arm. Instead of being defeated, Inky channeled his hardship into a powerful message of overcoming adversity. As a popular motivational speaker, Inky empowers audiences to e...
Feb 07, 2019•50 min•Ep. 57
From the NFL football field to the stage of America’s Got Talent , Jon Dorenbos has captured the hearts of fans with his incredible story of perseverance. After the tragic murder of his mother by his father when Jon was 12, magic and football became his two outlets. He went on to play 14 seasons in the NFL- the majority with the Philadelphia Eagles- before a life-threatening heart condition ended his career. Jon also made it to the finals of the TV show America’s Got Talent , showcasing his skil...
Jan 24, 2019•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 56
Daymond John is a branding expert, investor, TV personality, author and motivational speaker. He made a name for himself as the founder of the lifestyle brand FUBU, growing the business from a makeshift factory out of his home into a multibillion-dollar company. Today millions of viewers know him as a judge on ABC’s Shark Tank. On this episode, Daymond shares his story of relentless perseverance and the practical advice he’s learned along the way. We talk about the idea of failing fast, his uniq...
Jan 10, 2019•37 min•Ep. 55
This special edition of Game Changers with Molly Fletcher features clips and insights from some of our most downloaded episodes of 2018. Hear from guests like bestselling authors Patrick Lencioni, Seth Godin and Daniel Pink, athletes and coaches like NASCAR champ Jimmie Johnson, Hall of Fame pitcher John Smoltz, and Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney, and business leaders like Ginger Hardage (Southwest Airlines), Jenn Lim (Zappos), and Patty McCord (Netflix)....
Dec 27, 2018•28 min•Ep. 54
Greg McKeown is the author of the New York Times bestseller “ Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less .” Essentialism isn’t about getting more done in less time; it’s about getting the right things done so that you can make your highest possible contribution.On this episode, we talk about how to determine what is absolutely essential and eliminate what is non-essential, so that we can focus our time and energy on the things that matter most....
Dec 13, 2018•42 min•Ep. 53
Leila Janah is the founder and CEO of Samasource and LXMI , two companies that go beyond charity to give work to low-income people around the world to generate life-changing income. Leila is the author of the book Give Work . She was named to Fortune’s 40 Under 40 list and honored as one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Women in Tech . On this episode, we talk about what’s broken about the traditional charity model, the biggest challenges she’s faced as a young entrepreneur in Silicon Valley, a...
Nov 29, 2018•39 min•Ep. 52
Seth Godin is an entrepreneur, best-selling author, brilliant marketer and speaker who’s known for “making a ruckus.” He’s written 19 bestselling books including Permission Marketing, Tribes, and Purple Cow and has the most popular business blog in the world. Seth also runs the altMBA, a four-week online leadership and management workshop, and hosts the podcast akimbo . On this episode, we dig into Seth’s new book- This Is Marketing: You Can’t Be Seen Until You Learn to See . We talk about build...
Nov 15, 2018•41 min•Ep. 51
Shabnam Mogharabi is the CEO of SoulPancake, an award-winning entertainment company she co-founded with actor Rainn Wilson (better known as Dwight from The Office). SoulPancake spreads joy and celebrates the human experience by producing and curating thought-provoking, uplifting video content. Shabnam is also a New York Times bestselling author of SoulPancake: Chew on Life’s Big Questions . On this episode, we talk about how to craft a great story, being intentional about tuning into joy in our ...
Nov 01, 2018•36 min•Ep. 50
Hall of Fame pitcher John Smoltz loved the big stage. The only Atlanta Braves player to be part of the franchise’s historic run of 14 consecutive division titles, Smoltz helped the Braves to five World Series appearances and the 1995 title. In his 21-year career, Smoltz shifted between starter and closer, making history as the only player in big league history with at least 200 career wins and at least 150 saves. On this episode, we talk about how he dealt with adversity throughout this career a...
Oct 18, 2018•59 min•Ep. 49
The New York Times calls him “a sought-after guru to NFL coaches, Olympians, hip-hop stars and Silicon Valley entrepreneurs.” Ryan Holiday is a marketing expert who made a name for himself as the director of marketing for American Apparel and has gone on to work with clients like Google, Tony Robbins and Tim Ferriss. He’s the bestselling author of The Obstacle Is the Way and Ego Is the Enemy, and his books have sold more than 1.3 million copies. On this episode, Ryan shows us how to turn even th...
Oct 04, 2018•36 min•Ep. 48
Ron Clark is more than just an educator. He has been featured on Oprah and The Today Show , and his school, the Ron Clark Academy (RCA) in Atlanta, is known around the world for its innovative teaching methods. Nearly 50,000 educators, teachers and administrators have visited the Academy to learn the “out-of-the-box” methods for student success, and you’ve probably seen some of the viral videos of students singing, dancing and bringing joy to the classroom. Ron is the 2000 Disney American Teache...
Sep 20, 2018•34 min•Ep. 47
Dubbed a “modern-day Jane Austen,” by Vanity Fair, author Emily Giffin has touched the hearts of millions of readers with her bestselling novels. Her books have been translated into 31 languages and sold more than 11 million copies worldwide. Her latest book, All We Ever Wanted, is out now. On this episode, Emily talks about the creative process and finding the courage to pursue your dreams.
Sep 06, 2018•48 min•Ep. 46
Under the leadership of head football coach Gus Malzahn, the Auburn Tigers are back in the national conversation. In five seasons as head coach, Gus has led the Tigers to a 45-22 record, a SEC Championship, and an appearance in the 2013 BCS National Championship Game. On this episode, we talk about how he was able to orchestrate one of the biggest turnarounds in college football history, what it takes to change a program’s culture, and the importance of setting big goals while embracing the litt...
Aug 23, 2018•32 min•Ep. 45
An overflowing email inbox. Pointless meetings. An endless to-do list. Does this describe your life at work? It’s time to shift your mindset from busyness to thoughtfulness by embracing whitespace. Juliet Funt is the CEO of WhiteSpace at Work, a training and consulting firm that helps organizations, their leaders and employees reclaim their creativity, productivity and engagement. On this episode, she talks about the big difference between activity and productivity, the four thieves of productiv...
Aug 09, 2018•44 min•Ep. 44
The nature of work is shifting. More people do their job virtually or remotely than ever before, the gig economy is booming, and more companies are using freelance and contract workers. Shannon Miles is the co-founder of BELAY Solutions, a virtual staffing solutions company that is ranked #1 on Entrepreneur’s Top Company Culture list in the small company category. She’s also the author of The Third Option which explores how you can live and work on your own terms without sacrificing career or fa...
Jul 26, 2018•36 min•Ep. 43
Why do some groups add up to be greater than the sum of their parts while others end up to be less? In his new book, The Culture Code, New York Times bestselling author Daniel Coyle goes inside some of the world’s most successful organizations to examine how great cultures are built and sustained. On this episode, we talk about the three skills that generate collaborative cultures and learn how leaders can use these tools to build strong cultures inside their own organizations.
Jul 12, 2018•45 min•Ep. 42
What can the game of football teach us about life and leadership? Everything. Arizona State University football coach Herm Edwards has experienced every facet of the game as a player, ESPN analyst, and coach. Herm has an incredible way of wrapping up decades of leadership lessons from the football world and applying them to our own lives. On this episode, we talk about the difference between people who are interested and those who are committed, what it means to lead with integrity, and why succ...
Jun 28, 2018•35 min•Ep. 41
Bob Goff is the New York Times best-selling author of Love Does . After practicing law for 25 years, Bob gave up his law firm to focus on writing, speaking, and his humanitarian work. He’s the Honorary Counsel to Uganda and the founder of Love Does, a nonprofit organization that works to provide educational opportunities in post conflict zones throughout the world. On this episode, we talk about his new book, Everybody, Always , and what it means to love without limits, live without fear, and dr...
Jun 14, 2018•42 min•Ep. 40
What if we could feel less busy while getting more done? In her new book, Off the Clock , time management expert Laura Vanderkam says: it’s possible! Her TED Talk, How to Gain Control of Your Free Time , has been viewed more than 5 million times and she’s been featured in The New York Times, Fast Company, and Fortune. On this episode, Laura shares the seven principles that will help you get more done without feeling overwhelmed. Start your clocks, these next 30 minutes will have you re-thinking ...
May 31, 2018•32 min•Ep. 39
Moments have the power to awaken us, elevate us, and change us, yet many of the defining moments in our lives are the result of accident or luck. In his new book, The Power of Moments , Dan Heath teaches us how we can create more magical moments in our lives. On this episode, we talk about how unlocking the power of moments can transform everything—from customer service to employee experience to our families. Moments matter, and we have the power to create them....
May 17, 2018•39 min•Ep. 38
With his infectious energy and unbridled enthusiasm, Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney has everyone taking notice of the Tigers. Under his leadership, Clemson won the national championship in 2016 and has appeared in the College Football Playoffs three consecutive years. On this episode, Dabo shares his inside-out approach to leadership, the defining moments in his own journey, and how he’s built a team culture rooted in love, discipline and service.
May 03, 2018•58 min•Ep. 37
As the chief talent officer of Netflix, Patty McCord helped create the company’s famous “culture deck”—a 124-page document that went viral and has been shared over 20 million times. Sheryl Sandberg called it “ the most important document to ever come out of the Valley.” In her new book, Powerful: Building a Culture of Freedom and Responsibility , Patty teaches how to build high-performance cultures. Great teams are not created with incentives, procedures, and perks, she says. The best thing lead...
Apr 19, 2018•56 min•Ep. 36
Passionate about creating great teams, Patrick Lencioni helps leaders and organizations improve teamwork, clarity and engagement. The founder and president of The Table Group, Patrick is the author of 11 books which have sold over 5 million copies. His work has been featured in Harvard Business Review, Fortune and Inc., and the Wall Street Journal called him “one of the most in demand speakers in America.” On this episode, Patrick talks about the five dysfunctions that inhibit teams from reachin...
Apr 05, 2018•43 min•Ep. 35
When you see No. 48 ripping around the track with Jimmie Johnson behind the wheel, chances are he’s headed for Victory Lane. A seven-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion, Jimmie shares the all-time record with racing legends Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt and is one of the most accomplished professional athletes in sports today. Forbes named him The Most Influential Athlete and ESPN Magazine recently named him No. 4 on their Dominant 20, highlighting the most dominant 20 athletes of the last two de...
Mar 22, 2018•30 min•Ep. 34
