Have you ever wondered what it takes to succeed in a high-stakes business? It’s not a simple life. There’s things to gain, but also things to lose. Today’s episode is an incredible cautionary tale for those of you who are building your way to success. In today’s episode, Damon is joined by Butch Meily, former PR strategist to Reginald Lewis, a leveraged buyout dealmaker, and now humanitarian—to discuss his powerful memoir From Manila to Wall Street . In this episode you’ll learn Why proximity to...
May 13, 2025•46 min•Ep. 165
Mentorship isn’t a box to check or a corporate initiative to roll out. It’s a deeply human exchange that only works when it’s honest, unforced, and rooted in trust. In today's episode, Damon is joined by Award-winning Researcher, Author and Founder of The Mentor Project, Dr. Deborah Heiser, who is here to challenge everything we think we know about what it means to be a mentor. In this episode you’ll learn: The essential ingredients that make mentorship actually work Why most formal mentorship p...
May 08, 2025•34 min•Ep. 164
What happens when life throws something at you that you didn’t see coming? In this personal solo episode, Damon opens up about a life-altering diagnosis that challenged his vision—both physically and metaphorically. Whether you're navigating personal challenges or professional setbacks, this episode offers a roadmap to move forward with resilience, community, and purpose. In this episode, you’ll learn: The surprising diagnosis that reshaped Damon’s outlook on leadership and life How to reject th...
May 07, 2025•6 min•Ep. 163
If you treat LinkedIn like Facebook or Instagram, you are never going to succeed. Most people copy what works on other platforms. They chase likes and shares, and end up with zero traction. But what if the secret to LinkedIn wasn’t more content, but better conversation? In today’s episode, Damon is joined by Richard Bliss , LinkedIn and social selling strategist, bestselling author of DigitalFirst Leadership, and trainer to top sales teams and executives. In this episode, you will learn: Why Lin...
May 06, 2025•52 min•Ep. 162
There’s often a gap between what school teaches and what real life demands. Jason Weiss found that to be true for becoming a lawyer. Now, after 25 years in the legal world, he shares the practical, hard-earned lessons that apply to anyone trying to succeed in a high-pressure, people-driven profession. Whether you’re a lawyer, leader, or someone simply figuring out how to show up fully in your work, this episode is a masterclass in resilience, communication, and redefining success on your own ter...
May 01, 2025•52 min•Ep. 161
Have you ever stayed too long at a job, on a project, or even a relationship just because you already put so much into it? That’s the “Sunk Cost” fallacy at work. And it can quietly sabotage smart leaders, strong companies, and promising futures. In this solo episode, Damon unpacks how this psychological trap nearly cost his company half a million dollars and what finally gave him the clarity and courage to walk away. In this episode, you’ll learn: What the sunk cost fallacy really is (and how i...
Apr 30, 2025•6 min•Ep. 160
70% of college seniors with student debt say looming repayments will impact their career plans. The average graduate and oftentimes, their parents will endure 17 to 20 years of loan payments in efforts to become free from student debt. Our emerging workforce will comprise 75% of the workforce by 2025 making student debt a majority issue. Student debt isn’t just a financial burden, but it’s one of the biggest barriers to wealth creation in the modern workforce. In this episode, we’re joined by La...
Apr 29, 2025•44 min•Ep. 159
What happens when your lifelong career ends overnight? Most people panic. Steve Delsohn got to work. After 16 years at ESPN, multiple journalism awards, and a career-defining body of investigative work, Steve found himself laid off, just one day after winning two prestigious honors. In this episode, Steve opens up about the emotional and professional toll of being let go, how he transitioned into the world of PR without sacrificing his values, and why saying “no” to big opportunities is sometime...
Apr 24, 2025•49 min•Ep. 158
When host Damon Lembi quit drinking, it had nothing to do with hitting rock bottom. Instead, it had everything to do with the future he wanted to create. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why Damon gave up alcohol (without hitting a dramatic low) The moment he realized he wasn’t showing up as the person he wanted to be A 5-step framework for making lasting change in your life How to handle discomfort in social situations after a big change What life felt like two weeks, two months, and nine years a...
Apr 23, 2025•10 min•Ep. 157
Business-to-business commerce is broken. Today’s customers find themselves overwhelmed by too many options, too much information, and too many obstacles. The result is often an inability to execute any but the safest of purchase decisions, frequently resulting in no decision at all. Today’s guest is Brent Adamson, he’s a world-renowned researcher, author, presenter, trainer, and advisor to B2B commercial executives around the world. He’s here to argue that the real key to B2B sales success is to...
Apr 22, 2025•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 156
“73% of customers say experience is a key factor in their purchasing decisions just behind price and product quality,” according to a report from PwC. Customer experience is no longer just a support function of your business... it’s a leadership strategy. In this episode, we’re joined by Van Battle , a seasoned customer experience leader who has first hand experience on how it can improve a company’s success based on his career working with brands like Jamba Juice, Urban Remedy, and The Sharper ...
Apr 17, 2025•45 min•Ep. 155
We’ve all paid the price of believing in someone who let us down. But what if that “cost” isn’t a failure, but it’s a necessary for greater connection, creativity, and leadership? It's a mindset shift for leaders who want to build stronger teams, healthier relationships, and resilient organizations. If you’ve ever been burned by someone at work or in life, this one’s for you. In this episode, you’ll learn: What the “Trust Tax” is and why you should choose to pay it The four-part framework to lea...
Apr 16, 2025•8 min•Ep. 154
Sales is not just about closing deals. Leadership and sales are, at their core, both about helping people achieve what they didn’t think was possible. But in order to effectively help people, you need to master the skill of sales. In this episode, we’re joined by Mark Hunter, renowned sales strategist, speaker and author known as The Sales Hunter , to explore the timeless overlap between selling and leading. In this episode you will learn: Why trust is the foundation of every sale (and how to bu...
Apr 15, 2025•41 min•Ep. 153
Success is an extremely misunderstood word. If you lack the self-awareness of why you do what you do, it won’t matter how much money you are making on paper. This lack of awareness can prevent you from performing at your best, but that’s what we’re here to solve today. Today’s guest is JM Ryerson. He’s a serial entrepreneur, performance coach, author and the founder of Let’s Go Win , a company dedicated to helping high performers live their best lives both personally and professionally. In This ...
Apr 10, 2025•48 min•Ep. 152
The secret to making your team more engaged, more productive and far less likely to leave? Intentional and focused 1 on 1 meetings. Today’s guest learned this lesson the hard way. Brendan Rogers is a leadership coach who used to believe that great teams were built through occasional team meetings and annual performance reviews. But when the world went remote during the pandemic? He was surprised to realize that without consistent, structured one-on-one conversations, leaders lose control, perfor...
Apr 08, 2025•49 min•Ep. 151
In a world that’s accelerating towards AI & automation, what sets us apart isn’t speed or scale, it’s creativity. The biggest myth we’re here to dispel is that creativity is only for artists. That’s a lie. In today’s episode, we’re joined by MaryLou Kayser, who has spent the last 30 years as a coach, speaker and thought leader around the power of creativity. What You’ll Learn in This Episode Why creativity is not just “artists” How to build up your creativity through daily practices How to p...
Apr 03, 2025•51 min•Ep. 150
Research shows that high-performing sales teams drive up to 80% of a company’s revenue (Harvard Business Review). Yet most teams are flying blind and relying on outdated sales plans, inconsistent outreach, and a lack of new leads for their business. pipelines. In this episode, we’re joined by author and leading expert in B2B sales coaching, Mark Cox. Whether you're new to sales or a seasoned sales leader, Mark offers invaluable insights and practical tools to help you master the art of selling i...
Apr 01, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 149
Most leaders follow the rules. Hitting their targets, meeting expectations, and settling into a rhythm. But un common leaders refuse to stay comfortable. Leadership has very little to do with your title or authority. Instead it’s about creating influence, discipline, and the willingness to step outside of your comfort zone if you truly want to be a better leader. In today’s episode, we’re joined by John Gallagher , an executive coach, performance consultant, and trusted advisor to some of the wo...
Mar 27, 2025•54 min•Ep. 148
11 Skills AI Will Never Replace: Skill #11 Learning Agility Welcome to The Learn-It-All Podcast’s 11 Skills AI Will Never Replace -- our 11-part special series exploring the essential human skills that AI cannot replicate. With the start of the new year, we’re all facing unprecedented technological disruption and workplace transformation. To help you thrive in this new landscape, we’ve leveraged a study from MuchSkills that analyzed data from 28,000 professionals to identify the capabilities tha...
Mar 26, 2025•35 min•Ep. 147
Being a successful leader for your company in a world full of disruption means building more than your technical skills. Yes, you must deliver results, but to run a successful business, you need people. And people today want leaders who can and will work to see beyond themselves and only the bottom line. In today's episode, we’re joined by Joe Davis. He’s the former Managing Director and Senior Partner at Boston Consulting Group, which is one of the pioneers in business strategy, and he’s now a ...
Mar 25, 2025•41 min•Ep. 146
According to Gallup's State of the Global Workplace Report… Only 30% of employees feel truly engaged in their work, and the consequences are massive with higher turnover, lower productivity, and a workforce that feels disconnected from purpose. The reality? Disengagement is a leadership crisis. It’s time to fix it. Today we’re joined by Jean Accius , CEO of Creating Healthier Communities and thought leader in workplace well-being and leadership innovation. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: Why psyc...
Mar 20, 2025•42 min•Ep. 145
11 Skills AI Will Never Replace: Skill #10 Delegation Welcome to The Learn-It-All Podcast’s 11 Skills AI Will Never Replace -- our 11-part special series exploring the essential human skills that AI cannot replicate. With the start of the new year, we’re all facing unprecedented technological disruption and workplace transformation. To help you thrive in this new landscape, we’ve leveraged a study from MuchSkills that analyzed data from 28,000 professionals to identify the capabilities that will...
Mar 19, 2025•27 min•Ep. 144
Giving and receiving feedback is one of the most critical yet difficult skills in leadership. Many leaders avoid giving honest feedback, and even more struggle to receive it without defensiveness. But what if feedback didn’t have to feel so uncomfortable? In today’s episode, we’re joined by Joe Hirsch , a communication expert, speaker, and author of The Feedback Fix . Joe introduces his Feed Forward approach—transforming feedback from a dreaded conversation into a tool for growth. He shares stra...
Mar 18, 2025•47 min•Ep. 143
Power Games: How Leaders Navigate the Workplace Dynamics of Power Are power games undermining your leadership and sabotaging your team's performance? In this thought-provoking episode of The Learn-It-All Podcast, host Damon Lembi interviews leadership expert Zoë Routh about her forthcoming book Power Games and the complex dynamics of power in the workplace. According to Zoë 's research, power games exist in 100% of workplaces, and even well-intentioned leaders can fall prey to their destructive ...
Mar 13, 2025•43 min•Ep. 142
11 Skills AI Will Never Replace: Skill #9 Collaboration Welcome to The Learn-It-All Podcast’s 11 Skills AI Will Never Replace -- our 11-part special series exploring the essential human skills that AI cannot replicate. With the start of the new year, we’re all facing unprecedented technological disruption and workplace transformation. To help you thrive in this new landscape, we’ve leveraged a study from MuchSkills that analyzed data from 28,000 professionals to identify the capabilities that wi...
Mar 12, 2025•29 min•Ep. 141
Any Dumbass Leader Can Create an Exceptional Culture Are your team members running out the door excited to come to work? If not, why? Garry Ridge, former CEO and Chairman Emeritus of WD-40, joins Damon Lembi on The Learn-It-All Podcast to discuss how leaders can build high-trust, high-performance cultures where people feel valued and can learn, grow, and thrive. Drawing from his 25 years leading WD-40 and his new book Any Dumbass Can Do It , Garry shares how WD-40 achieved remarkable business re...
Mar 11, 2025•47 min•Ep. 140
Stop Hemorrhaging Top Talent: A Leader's Guide to Modern Employee Retention Are you tired of watching your best employees walk out the door despite competitive pay and benefits? What if retention actually begins before an employee's first day? In this enlightening episode of The Learn-It-All Podcast, host Damon Lembi explores groundbreaking strategies for attracting and retaining top talent with Mike Harbour, author of Quit Losing Talent . Drawing from his extensive experience as both a headhunt...
Mar 06, 2025•45 min•Ep. 139
11 Skills AI Will Never Replace: Skill #8 Coaching Welcome to The Learn-It-All Podcast’s 11 Skills AI Will Never Replace -- our 11-part special series exploring the essential human skills that AI cannot replicate. With the start of the new year, we’re all facing unprecedented technological disruption and workplace transformation. To help you thrive in this new landscape, we’ve leveraged a study from MuchSkills that analyzed data from 28,000 professionals to identify the capabilities that will ma...
Mar 05, 2025•33 min•Ep. 138
Why High Performers Often Fail as Leaders (And What to Do About It) Are your top individual contributors struggling in leadership roles? According to David Kitchen, founder of Edge Leadership Academy, there's a crucial reason: leadership requires a completely different skillset than individual excellence. On this episode of The Learn-It-All Podcast, David Kitchen shares insights from his journey from Division I basketball coach to leadership development expert. In conversation with host Damon Le...
Mar 04, 2025•51 min•Ep. 137
The Hidden Cost of Prioritizing Business Over Health: A Leader's Wake-Up Call Are you sacrificing your health on the altar of business success? What if the relentless pursuit of profit is actually undermining your ability to achieve your goals? In this compelling episode of The Learn-It-All Podcast, host Damon Lembi engages in a candid conversation with Mark Samuel, a serial entrepreneur and wellness advocate with over 65,000 LinkedIn followers. Their discussion examines the critical intersectio...
Feb 27, 2025•41 min•Ep. 136
