"Life becomes rich when death becomes certain." Fifteen years ago, Jerry Foster shared those words with me after receiving a cancer diagnosis that gave him a 50/50 chance of living five more years. That single sentence stopped me cold—and it went on to shape the first chapter of my book and the foundation of my keynote talks. In this episode, Jerry and I return to that moment and explore why clarity so often arrives only when the clock feels loud.

Jerry's diagnosis didn't just alter his health outlook; it rewired his priorities. The things that truly mattered became vivid, while distractions faded into the background. He stopped saying yes to the wrong things so he could fully commit to the right ones—family, faith, relationships, health, and purpose. This conversation challenges a cultural habit many of us share: waiting for crisis before we become intentional.

We talk candidly about leadership under uncertainty—how facing mortality reshaped Jerry's approach as a CEO, mentor, husband, and father. He explains why he intentionally built a company that could thrive without him, how delegation became an act of stewardship, and why great leadership is about creating systems that outlast you.

Jerry also introduces the idea of life wealth—the accumulation of five forms of capital: financial, relational, physical, spiritual, and intellectual. True wealth isn't measured by a balance sheet alone; it's revealed in health, peace, relationships, wisdom, and meaning. This framework reframes success and invites leaders to assess where they're investing—and what they might be neglecting.

One of the most moving moments comes when Jerry shares how a simple but courageous question to his children—"What do you need from me if I'm only here three more years?"—reshaped the next fifteen years of his life. It's a reminder that leadership begins at home and that listening, not fixing, often creates the greatest legacy.

This episode isn't about fear; it's about focus. It's an invitation to stop waiting for certainty before living well. Because the truth is, death is certain for all of us—and that reality can either numb us… or wake us up to a richer, more intentional life.

Links:

• FREE GIFTS FOR LEADERS: https://leadwithstan.com

• MORE INFO: https://www.stangibsonspeaks.com

Episode Minute By Minute:

00:00 — Why This Conversation Matters
03:30 — The Diagnosis That Changed Everything
06:45 — "Life Becomes Rich When Death Becomes Certain"
10:30 — Learning to Say No to the Wrong Things
14:20 — Leadership, Legacy, and Building Beyond Yourself
18:15 — The Question That Shaped the Next 15 Years
23:40 — Life Wealth: The Five Dimensions That Matter
28:50 — Remembering Defining Moments
34:10 — Advice to Our Younger Selves
40:30 — Living Rich and Intentional—Starting Now
47:30 — Final Reflections and Blessing

In a world where artificial intelligence gives everyone instant access to information, the real differentiator isn't IQ — it's EQ. In today's episode, we're diving deep into why the leaders who will thrive in the AI era are the ones who know how to communicate, connect, and stay human in a rapidly changing world. When everyone has the same tools, the same data, and the same access, emotional intelligence becomes the one thing the algorithm can't replicate.

As organizations flatten and move faster, technical expertise alone is no longer enough. You need the ability to read a room, navigate conflict, build trust, and manage your own emotions under pressure. That's the new leadership advantage. We'll explore the habits and routines that make leaders indispensable — not because they know everything, but because they know how to relate to people. AI can process data. Leaders must process emotions.

I'll walk you through the shifts leaders need to make right now: moving from reacting to responding, from information-dumping to intentional communication, from task management to relationship management. These skills aren't optional anymore — they are essential. And the leaders who ignore them will find themselves sidelined, not because AI replaced them, but because they never learned to build the human connections AI depends on.

We'll also talk through the emotional weight leaders carry today. You're managing change, uncertainty, burnout, and rapid innovation — often all at the same time. EQ gives you the toolkit to stay grounded, communicate clearly, and help your teams feel safe even when the world feels unpredictable. If you can manage your emotions, you can lead others through theirs. That's leadership in the AI era.

Finally, I'll share practical ways to build your emotional intelligence day-to-day: habits you can apply right now to strengthen self-awareness, deepen empathy, and improve the quality of your leadership conversations. These are simple, repeatable routines that help you stay centered, thoughtful, and intentional — no matter how fast the world around you is moving.

If you've ever wondered how to stand out when the playing field keeps leveling itself, this episode is your roadmap. Because in a world that automates everything else, being fully human becomes your greatest advantage.

• AI is making technical knowledge accessible to everyone — EQ is what now separates leaders from the rest.
• Communication, empathy, and self-awareness are becoming the highest-value leadership skills.
• Leaders with high emotional intelligence build stronger teams, navigate change better, and create safer environments.
• EQ helps you respond instead of react — a critical skill in fast-moving organizations.
• The habits you build today determine your relevance in a world driven by AI.
  
  

Links:

• FREE GIFTS FOR LEADERS: https://leadwithstan.com

• MORE INFO: https://www.stangibsonspeaks.com

Episode Minute By Minute:

• 00:00 — Why EQ Matters More Than Ever
• 02:19 — AI Levels the Playing Field: So What Now?
• 05:03 — The Leadership Gap No One Is Talking About
• 08:44 — What AI Can't Replace: Human Connection
• 12:10 — Communication as the New Power Skill
• 16:32 — Emotional Regulation in the Era of Uncertainty
• 20:45 — How High-EQ Leaders Build Trust Faster
• 24:00 — Practical Habits to Strengthen Your EQ
• 27:45 — Why the Future Belongs to Emotionally Intelligent Leaders
• 30:10 — Final Thoughts: Your Human Advantage

In this powerful episode of The Inspiration Podcast, host Stan Gibson sits down with Alex Molden — former first-round NFL draft pick, speaker, author, and leadership coach — to talk about life beyond the field, discovering identity after success, and how to lead with influence and integrity.

Alex's story is one of grit, humility, and transformation. From being the #11 overall draft pick in the 1996 NFL Draft to facing career-ending injuries, he learned firsthand that even at the top, your job is never truly secure. Through the highs of playing for the Saints and Chargers to the humbling moments of rebuilding life after football, Alex discovered that true leadership is not about fame or titles — it's about influence, self-awareness, and consistency.

He shares how one mentor taught him the three principles that changed everything:
➡️ Assignment — Know your role and the roles of those around you.
➡️ Alignment — Position yourself precisely for success — in life, relationships, and work.
➡️ Adjustment — Be ready to adapt when things don't go as planned.

These lessons not only helped him excel on the field but also shaped his approach to leadership, parenting, and coaching others. Alex opens up about a painful post-NFL job interview that brought him to tears — a moment that forced him to ask, "Who am I without football?" That awakening led to years of personal growth and the creation of his book, "Breaking on the Ball of Life."

Whether you're leading a business, a team, or a family, this episode will inspire you to build your own framework for success — one grounded in awareness, purpose, and character.

"When you have something of value, you don't need to dress it up. You already shine." — Alex Molden

Links:

• FREE GIFTS FOR LEADERS: https://leadwithstan.com

• MORE INFO: https://www.stangibsonspeaks.com

Episode Minute By Minute:

• 00:00 — Welcome and introduction to Alex Molden
• 02:00 — Being recruited by Oregon and the early college years
• 05:00 — Getting drafted and the transition to the NFL
• 07:00 — What free agency taught him about business and humility
• 09:00 — The hard truth: your job is never safe in professional sports
• 12:00 — Facing injury, doubt, and the business side of the NFL
• 14:00 — The "Assignment, Alignment, Adjustment" framework that changed his life
• 18:00 — Applying those lessons to leadership and coaching
• 22:00 — Writing Breaking on the Ball of Life and redefining success
• 26:00 — The humbling story that forced him to rediscover his identity
• 31:00 — Rebuilding faith, priorities, and alignment after football
• 33:00 — How he teaches leaders to stay grounded in values and purpose
• 37:00 — Coaching others through honesty, culture, and influence
• 41:00 — The Junior Seau "Rolex" story — a lesson in humility and value
• 46:00 — What present-day Alex would tell his younger self
• 48:00 — Understanding leadership as influence
• 49:00 — How to connect with Alex Molden and learn more about his work