Badass Softie

Dr. J.J. Peterson

A Badass Softie is unapologetically ambitious and leads with heart. Ambitious and kind. Fun and driven. Powerful and deeply human. Badass Softie, hosted by Dr. J.J. Peterson, is a podcast that challenges the false choice leaders are too often given: be strong or be compassionate. The world doesn’t just need more leaders — it needs leaders bold enough to make an impact and compassionate enough to make it meaningful. Each episode pulls back the curtain on leaders, creators, and innovators who are rewriting the rules of what real leadership looks like. You’ll walk away with stories, insights, and practical takeaways that show you how to lead with both strength and softness — the very definition of being a Badass Softie. Subscribe and step fully into the kind of leader the world is waiting for. 

  1. hace 5 h

    Why We Perform Instead of Telling the Truth

    Most people don't set out to become performers. But over time, it's easy to trade pieces of ourselves for approval, success, certainty, or the version of us we think other people want to see. Dr. J.J. Peterson sits down with author and book coach Ally Fallon for a conversation about authenticity, ambition, and the courage it takes to tell yourself the truth. Together, they explore why so many people lose touch with their own voice while chasing external validation, how performance can quietly replace authenticity, and what it means to trust yourself when the rewards aren't immediate. Ally shares lessons from a season that brought her family to the brink of bankruptcy, the unexpected insights that emerged from a 30-day Instagram experiment, and why some of the most important growth happens long before anyone else can see it. For leaders who have ever wondered whether they're building a life that feels true—or simply becoming what the world rewards—this conversation offers a different way to think about success. What This Explores • Why finding your authentic voice takes courage • The difference between your inner and outer horizon • Why we perform for approval without realizing it • Letting go of likes, views, and external validation • What failure can teach us about purpose • Why meaningful work doesn't always make immediate sense • Listening when your body tells you something is out of alignment • Leading with authenticity instead of performance If this conversation resonated with you, consider following Badass Softie and sharing it with someone who may need the reminder that success and authenticity don't have to be at odds. Mentioned in This Episode The Artist's Way: https://juliacameronlive.com/book/the-artists-way-a-spiritual-path-to-higher-creativity Ally Fallon on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allyfallon  Follow Badass Softie Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/badasssoftiepod Website: https://www.badasssoftie.com

    36 min
  2. 22 jun

    What Happens When Everything Becomes Practical

    What if the moments that change someone's day are the ones we almost talk ourselves out of? The compliment we never give. The thank you we never send. The invitation we never make. The extra effort we decide isn't necessary. In this conversation, Dr. J.J. Peterson sits down with bestselling author and hospitality expert Will Guidara, author of Unreasonable Hospitality, to explore a simple idea that has the power to change how we lead, work, and live: Never let a gracious impulse pass. From a brief conversation with a catering team that still talks about the experience years later to creating moments of surprise and wonder that people never forget, Will shares why hospitality has very little to do with restaurants and everything to do with making people feel seen. Along the way, they discuss why affirmation matters more than we realize, why some of the most meaningful things we do will never show up on a spreadsheet, and why creating a little more magic in the world might be one of the most important responsibilities we have as leaders. What This Episode Explores Why people never outgrow the need to feel seen What hospitality really means beyond customer service The competitive advantage of caring Why some ideas are worth more than their immediate return How to create moments people remember Why joy shouldn't be reserved for special occasions What happens when we stop letting gracious impulses pass If this episode makes you think of someone, don't just send them the link. Tell them why. Mentioned in This Episode Unreasonable Hospitality: https://www.unreasonablehospitality.com/products/unreasonable-hospitality-the-remarkable-power-of-giving-people-more-than-they-expect  The Unreasonable Hospitality Field Guide: https://www.unreasonablehospitality.com/products/unreasonable-hospitality-the-field-guide  Website: https://www.unreasonablehospitality.com  Milk Bar: https://milkbarstore.com  Follow Badass Softie Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/badasssoftiepod Website: https://www.badasssoftie.com

    31 min
  3. 15 jun

    Maybe Consistency Isn't The Goal

    Melissa Greene spent years as a member of the Grammy-nominated Christian music group Avalon before becoming a pastor, speaker, writer, and advocate.   But along the way, life began challenging some of the beliefs she had always held—and forcing her to confront an uncomfortable truth: Growth doesn't happen by staying the same.   Melissa joins Dr. J.J. Peterson to explore what happens when certainty starts to crack, why changing your mind can feel so threatening, and how curiosity, compassion, and life experience can reshape the way we see ourselves and others.   While faith and theology are part of the conversation, this episode is really about something much bigger: growth, identity, and what happens when life asks us to become someone new. Together they explore a question many of us quietly wrestle with: Who are we becoming?   What We Explore • Why changing your mind can feel like changing your entire world • What happens when life no longer fits the story you've been told • Why some people stay curious while others double down • The power of meeting people beyond labels and assumptions • Why growth often requires letting go of certainty • What happens when your world gets bigger • Why you shouldn't expect to be the same person ten years from now   This episode is for you if you've ever questioned something you once believed, found yourself growing in unexpected ways, or wondered what it means to evolve without losing yourself along the way.   Mentioned in This Episode Substack: https://melissagreene.substack.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissagreene   Follow Badass Softie Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/badasssoftiepod Website: https://www.badasssoftie.com

    37 min
  4. 8 jun

    Failure Doesn't Always Mean You're Wrong

    What happens when the strategy stops working, but the mission still matters? Dr. J.J. Peterson sits down with entrepreneur, author, and Copper founder Allison Trowbridge for a conversation about leadership, adaptation, and the difference between staying committed to a mission and staying attached to a plan. Over the course of building Copper, Allison faced investor rejections, major pivots, layoffs, and moments when continuing forward seemed impossible. Yet through every version of the company, one thing remained unchanged: the people she set out to serve. The result is a powerful leadership conversation about knowing what should remain fixed, what must evolve, and why some of the most important leadership decisions begin with letting go. What This Explores • Why great leaders stay committed to the mission—not the original strategy • The difference between persistence and stubbornness • How to know when a pivot is necessary • Why success can create more pressure, not less • What failure teaches that success never can • The role community plays when leadership feels lonely If this conversation resonated with you, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who is building something meaningful. MENTIONED IN THIS CONVERSATION Copper Books:  https://copperbooks.com/ Website: https://www.allisontrowbridge.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisontrowbridge/   Follow Badass Softie Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/badasssoftiepod Website: https://www.badasssoftie.com

    33 min
  5. 1 jun

    What If You Had Nothing To Prove?

    What if the pressure you're carrying isn't coming from your workload, your business, or the world around you? What if it's coming from the belief that you still have something to prove? Dr. J.J. Peterson sits down with leadership coach and author Angus Nelson to explore why so many ambitious leaders feel exhausted, stuck, and disconnected from themselves despite achieving the very things they once thought would bring confidence and peace. Together, they unpack the hidden stories that drive our decisions, the permission we're constantly seeking from other people, and how chronic stress keeps us trapped in patterns of proving, performing, and pushing harder. Angus shares why nervous system resilience isn't really about managing stress—it's about reclaiming agency, challenging the stories that no longer serve you, and learning how to lead from a place of internal freedom rather than external validation. For anyone who has ever felt like success should feel better than this, this conversation offers a different path forward. What This Explores Why high achievers often feel like they still haven't done enough The hidden connection between self-permission and leadership How old stories shape the way we respond to pressure and uncertainty Why external success rarely resolves internal insecurity What it means to have nothing to prove—and why that's real power How to stop waiting for validation and start leading from conviction Mentioned In This Episode Get a copy of Angus Nelson's book "Neuro Resilient Leader" at https://angusnelson.com/freebook   Follow Badass Softie Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/badasssoftiepod Website: https://www.badasssoftie.com

    41 min
  6. 18 may

    Why Great Businesses Still Get Overlooked

    Some businesses do exceptional work and still struggle to stand out. In this conversation, Dr. J.J. Peterson sits down with Julie Firth and Sonya Whittam, founders of Story22, to explore the hidden gap between the value a business delivers and the way customers actually experience it. They talk about why so many growing companies accidentally start blending into the market, how businesses outgrow their messaging without realizing it, and why thoughtful customer experience has become one of the strongest competitive advantages a leader can build. The conversation also explores the connection between StoryBrand and Unreasonable Hospitality—and why clear messaging means very little if the experience behind it doesn’t make people feel seen. Because customers rarely remember perfect transactions. They remember how your business made them feel.   Join us on June 10th and 11th in London for our two-day intensive workshop - Become the Obvious Choice! - https://www.story22.co.uk/storybrand-unreasonable-hospitality-workshop-in-london-2026/ What This Explores Why great businesses still get overlooked When your business outgrows its messaging Why customers don’t always feel what makes you different The gap between marketing promises and customer experience How thoughtful service turns customers into advocates Why people remember businesses that make them feel seen Continue The Conversation If these ideas resonate, Dr. J.J. Peterson has explored both of these frameworks more deeply in previous conversations: If You Confuse, You Lose Why clarity is one of the most overlooked forms of service in business. Why Good Service Isn’t Enough Anymore (and What To Do Instead) A deeper look at why memorable customer experience creates loyalty long after the transaction ends. Mentioned In This Episode Story22  Building a StoryBrand by Donald Miller Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara   Follow Badass Softie Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/badasssoftiepod/  Website: https://www.badasssoftie.com/

    36 min
  7. 11 may

    You Don’t Have to Perform to Be Seen

    You can know your work helps people and still feel weird promoting yourself. The pressure to stay visible, market yourself online, and constantly talk about what you do can quickly start to feel performative, especially for leaders who care deeply about authenticity. In this episode, Dr. J.J. Peterson sits down with Heather Adams to talk about why so many thoughtful leaders struggle with visibility, and how to grow your influence without losing yourself in the process. After decades of helping authors, founders, and entrepreneurs build their platforms, Heather has seen how easy it is for people to believe they need to become louder or more polished in order to succeed. They explore the difference between visibility and performance—and how showing up honestly can become an act of service instead of self-promotion. What This Explores The difference between visibility vs. performance Why you don’t need to become louder to grow your influence The pressure to market yourself online without losing yourself Why trying to copy other leaders often backfires How to “baby step” into visibility in a way that feels authentic Join Heather's upcoming Substack Strategy Workshop: Clarify Your Message, Map Your Content & Create Your Launch Plan. Learn more here - https://choicemediacommunications.com/substack-strategy Mentioned In This Episode Choice Media:  choicemediacommunications.com  Instagram: instagram.com/heatherdixonadams    Follow Badass Softie Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/badasssoftiepod/ Website: https://www.badasssoftie.com/

    38 min

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A Badass Softie is unapologetically ambitious and leads with heart. Ambitious and kind. Fun and driven. Powerful and deeply human. Badass Softie, hosted by Dr. J.J. Peterson, is a podcast that challenges the false choice leaders are too often given: be strong or be compassionate. The world doesn’t just need more leaders — it needs leaders bold enough to make an impact and compassionate enough to make it meaningful. Each episode pulls back the curtain on leaders, creators, and innovators who are rewriting the rules of what real leadership looks like. You’ll walk away with stories, insights, and practical takeaways that show you how to lead with both strength and softness — the very definition of being a Badass Softie. Subscribe and step fully into the kind of leader the world is waiting for. 

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