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, we sit 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/