Calm and Confident Leader Podcast

Jason Stonehouse

Lead with Clarity. Conquer Stress. Maximize Your Impact. The Calm & Confident Leader Podcast helps high-performing executives, professionals, and influencers shift from reactive & overwhelmed to intentional & unshakable. The real game-changers in leadership aren’t external, they’re internal: resilience, emotional mastery, & stress-proof leadership. Hosted by Coach, Strategist, and Author Jason Stonehouse, this podcast blends 30 years of leadership with a Master’s in Counseling to deliver real, practical, and sometimes humorous insights to help you lead with clarity, courage, and confidence.

  1. S4-Episode 10-Stories Shape Leaders-Connie Kwan

    6d ago

    S4-Episode 10-Stories Shape Leaders-Connie Kwan

    Why do smart, successful leaders keep repeating the same patterns even when they know exactly what to do? What if the problem isn't a lack of discipline, motivation, or another leadership framework? What if the real issue is the story you're telling yourself about who you are? In this episode of The Calm and Confident Leader, Jason Stonehouse sits down with Connie Kwan, a five-time Chief Product Officer, former product leader at Microsoft and Atlassian, and author of the upcoming book STORYHabits. Together, they explore how the stories we carry shape our identity, our leadership, and ultimately our habits. Connie shares practical examples of leaders who transformed their behavior not by trying harder, but by discovering the deeper values and beliefs driving their actions. You'll learn why generic advice often falls flat, how emotions can reveal the stories running beneath the surface, and a simple framework for rewriting the narratives that may be holding you back. If you've ever wondered why lasting change feels so difficult, this conversation may help you uncover what's really going on beneath the habits you're trying to change. Connect with Connie:storyhabitsbook.com Connect with Jason:jasonstonehouse.com If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a leader who could benefit from the conversation. Every share helps us equip more leaders to lead with greater calm, confidence, and intention.

    28 min
  2. S4-Episode 9-Winning at the Wrong Game?-Louis Markos

    Jun 9

    S4-Episode 9-Winning at the Wrong Game?-Louis Markos

    What if all your success still doesn't answer the deepest questions you're carrying? Most high-performing leaders know how to solve problems, hit goals, and keep moving forward. But beneath the surface, many wrestle with questions they rarely say out loud: What if I'm winning at the wrong game? What if success still doesn't satisfy? What happens when I can't control the outcome? In this thought-provoking episode of The Calm and Confident Leader Podcast, host Jason Stonehouse sits down with renowned author, professor, and C.S. Lewis scholar Louis Markos to explore the questions that sit underneath leadership, purpose, faith, suffering, identity, and meaning. Drawing from his new book, My Apologetics Dinner Party, Louis shares insights gained from years of hosting conversations with people from every worldview imaginable. Together, Jason and Louis discuss the relationship between confidence and authenticity, why purpose alone may not fully satisfy the human heart, how leaders can remain open without abandoning critical thinking, and what faith offers in the face of pain, loss, and uncertainty. Whether you're a committed Christian, a curious skeptic, or simply a leader wrestling with life's bigger questions, this conversation will challenge you to think more deeply about who you are, why you're here, and what ultimately gives life meaning. In this episode you'll discover: • Why confidence grows from authenticity, not performance• The connection between purpose, fulfillment, and faith• What C.S. Lewis taught about desire and the search for meaning• How leaders can engage difficult conversations with humility and conviction• Why suffering raises important questions about God, purpose, and human nature• What it truly means to follow Christ beyond cultural Christianity Resources Mentioned: My Apologetics Dinner Party by Louis Markos Connect with Jason Stonehouse:https://jasonstonehouse.com If this episode encouraged you, challenged your thinking, or helped you see leadership and life from a fresh perspective, please share it with someone who would benefit from the conversation. And be sure to subscribe to The Calm and Confident Leader Podcast so you never miss an episode filled with practical wisdom, personal growth, and inside-out leadership transformation.

    42 min
  3. S4-Episode 8-Character Before Competence-O Alan Noble

    May 26

    S4-Episode 8-Character Before Competence-O Alan Noble

    What happens when your skills outgrow your character? In this episode of the Calm and Confident Leader podcast, host Jason Stonehouse sits down with Dr. O. Alan Noble to explore why so many capable leaders eventually collapse under the weight of success, not because they lacked talent, but because their inner foundation was never strengthened to carry it. Together, Jason and Alan unpack the difference between competency and character, why modern culture rewards efficiency over integrity, and how leaders can rebuild the inner scaffolding needed to lead with wisdom, courage, temperance, and endurance. They discuss the dangers of image management, the pressure to always perform, the paralysis that comes from overthinking decisions, and why suffering is not always a sign that something has gone wrong. This conversation is thoughtful, honest, and deeply practical for leaders who are tired of chasing performance while neglecting the person behind the title. If you’ve ever felt exhausted trying to keep up appearances, uncertain about difficult decisions, or stretched thin by the constant demand for more, this episode will help you slow down and rethink what it actually means to live and lead well. Jason Stonehouse is joined by Dr. O. Alan Noble, associate professor of English at Oklahoma Baptist University, fellow at the Keller Center for Cultural Apologetics, and author of the new book To Live Well. Links mentioned in this episode: • Dr. Alan Noble: OAlanNoble.com• Jason Stonehouse: JasonStonehouse.com• Follow Dr. Alan Noble on Substack: Alan Noble on Substack If this episode encouraged you or challenged your thinking, share it with someone else who could benefit from the conversation. And be sure to subscribe to the Calm and Confident Leader podcast so you never miss an episode filled with practical wisdom, honest conversations, and tools to help you lead from the inside out.

    37 min
  4. S4-Episode 7-Emotional Health in Leadership-Randy Lyman

    May 19

    S4-Episode 7-Emotional Health in Leadership-Randy Lyman

    What if the reason you still feel stuck isn’t your strategy, but the emotional patterns running underneath it? In this episode of The Calm and Confident Leader, host Jason Stonehouse sits down with entrepreneur, physicist, and emotional intelligence expert Randy Lyman for a powerful conversation about the hidden emotional dynamics that shape leadership, decision-making, and fulfillment. After building multiple eight-figure businesses and reaching financial success, Randy realized something surprising. He had achieved the goals, but still felt disconnected and unfulfilled. That discovery launched him into a deeper journey of emotional awareness, authenticity, and what he calls “The Third Element.” Together, Jason and Randy unpack why so many leaders suppress emotions in the name of strength, how unhealed emotional wounds quietly influence our reactions, and why emotional health is not weakness, but one of the greatest leadership advantages available. You’ll also hear practical insights on:• Recognizing emotional patterns before they sabotage relationships• The difference between reacting and responding• Why teams struggle with communication and decision-making• A simple four-step framework for making better decisions as a leader• How emotional awareness creates calmer, more confident leadership• Why vulnerability actually increases trust and influence This conversation is thoughtful, practical, and deeply relatable for leaders who have ever felt successful on the outside while quietly struggling on the inside. Learn more about Randy Lyman and his work at RandyLyman.com You can also connect with host Jason Stonehouse and explore coaching resources at JasonStonehouse.com If this episode encouraged you, share it with someone who could use it, and be sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode of The Calm and Confident Leader.

    37 min
  5. S4-Episode 6-Working Together Enneagram-Joey Schewee

    Mar 24

    S4-Episode 6-Working Together Enneagram-Joey Schewee

    Why is this person so difficult to work with? You've asked it. Every leader has. And the answer probably isn't what you think. Most of us assume difficult people are just... difficult. Wrong personality. Bad fit. Too much drama. But what if the real problem is that you're trying to fix behavior when the actual issue is motivation? Those are two completely different problems, and they require two completely different solutions. In this episode, Jason Stonehouse sits down with Joey Schewee, management consultant, executive coach, and longtime Enneagram expert, to talk about what's actually driving the friction on your team. Joey has spent 30 years helping leaders get past surface-level personality typing and into the harder, more useful question: why do people do what they do? Her new book, When Working Together Doesn't Work, is essentially a field manual for leaders who are tired of the same team problems showing up in different people. In this conversation, Jason and Joey dig into why self-awareness has to come before team awareness, what it means to lead from your dominant center (doing, feeling, or thinking), why those high-action "motor" types rise quickly and sometimes crash hard, and the one practical thing you can do to stop reacting to behavior and start getting curious about motivation. If you lead people, this one is worth your time. Connect with Joey Schewee:LinkedIn: Joey ScheweeInstagram: @EnneagramParentsWebsite: wesolutions.life Get the book: When Working Together Doesn't Work by Joey Schewee, available on Amazon. If this episode added value, do two things: share it with a leader who needs it, and subscribe so you don't miss what's coming next.

    26 min
  6. S4-Episode 5-Connecting Across Differences-James Borishade

    Mar 10

    S4-Episode 5-Connecting Across Differences-James Borishade

    What if the person on your team who frustrates you the most isn’t the problem… but the clue? In this episode of the Calm and Confident Leader Podcast, host Jason Stonehouse sits down with Dr. James Borishade, author of Connecting Across Differences, to unpack why so many leaders struggle with conflict and communication, and what they might be missing. Dr. Borishade brings a fascinating perspective shaped by leading in high tension environments, serving as CEO of Circle Urban Ministries, becoming the first African American CEO in the challenge course and zip line industry, and helping organizations rethink how people work together. Together, Jason and James explore a powerful idea. What if the behaviors that irritate us in others are actually rooted in their story, their experiences, and even their unique design? In this conversation you’ll discover: • Why many relational struggles begin with the belief that something is wrong with us• The difference between God designed uniqueness and emotional immaturity• How trauma and personal stories shape workplace behavior• Why the silent tension in a team can be more dangerous than open conflict• Practical ways leaders can create environments where people feel safe enough to be honest• A powerful shift from employing people to deploying them into the roles where they thrive This episode is packed with practical leadership wisdom about navigating differences, asking better questions, and building teams where diverse perspectives actually strengthen the organization instead of tearing it apart. Links mentioned in this episode Jason Stonehousehttps://jasonstonehouse.com Dr. James Borishadehttps://borishade.com Circle Urban Ministrieshttps://circleurban.org Book: Connecting Across Differences (available wherever books are sold, including Amazon) If this episode encouraged you or helped you think about leadership in a new way, share it with a friend or a colleague who could benefit from the conversation. And be sure to subscribe to the Calm and Confident Leader Podcast so you don’t miss any of the great content coming your way.

    24 min
  7. S4- Episode 4-Enough for Today-Donna Barber

    Feb 24

    S4- Episode 4-Enough for Today-Donna Barber

    Have you ever felt like you’re leading… while quietly wondering if you’re lost? What do you do when you’re not where you used to be, not yet where you thought you’d be, and the map feels a little blurry? In this episode of The Calm and Confident Leader, Jason Stonehouse sits down with writer, educator, and leadership developer Donna Barber, author of Enough for Today: 40 Reflections for Surviving the Wilderness. Together, they explore the leadership reality we don’t talk about enough, the wilderness seasons. Not the dramatic collapse.Not the highlight reel success.But the in-between. Donna shares what gets stripped away in the wilderness. The props. The image management. The illusion that leaders are somehow above the earthquake while everyone else feels the tremors. She offers a powerful reminder that leadership does not require superhuman strength. It requires honesty, humility, and the courage to admit we are in it too. You’ll hear them unpack: What wilderness seasons reveal about our fears, insecurities, and misplaced hopes How to face fear instead of letting it quietly run the show Why perception often fuels fear more than reality How to rediscover God in ordinary moments, not just big spiritual events The danger of victim thinking and the freedom that comes from owning your role in change This conversation moves from fog to responsibility, from fear to agency, and from waiting on change to becoming it. Because here’s the thing. You are not just surviving your season.You are being formed in it. Hosted by Jason Stonehouse, leadership coach and counselor, with guest Donna Barber, writer, educator, co-founder of The Voices Project, and author of Enough for Today. Resources mentioned: voices-project.orgdonnambarber.comjasonstonehouse.comIf this episode resonated with you, share it with another leader who might be navigating their own wilderness. And be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss a single episode of The Calm and Confident Leader.

    25 min
  8. S4-Episode 3-Calm is Contagious- Susan Inouye

    Feb 10

    S4-Episode 3-Calm is Contagious- Susan Inouye

    Ever walk into a meeting where everyone’s spiraling, and one calm voice changes everything? What if you could be that person? In this episode of The Calm and Confident Leader, host Jason Stonehouse sits down with transformational executive coach and founder of Sawubona Leadership, Susan Inouye, to talk about how presence, authenticity, and emotional clarity can become your biggest leadership advantages. With insights from coaching leaders in over 600 companies, Susan shares: Why most leaders get change wrong and how to fix it How to uncover the natural gifts in your team without using a test The underrated power of observing people with curiosity How one leadership team doubled profits by simply putting the right people in the right seats You'll also hear why walking slowly outside might be the secret to becoming a better leader. Really. To grab a free chapter of Susan’s book, get access to her resources, or book a discovery call, visit:www.susaninouye.com/CCL Hosted by Jason Stonehouse, this episode gives you simple, powerful ways to stay grounded while leading through uncertainty. If you found this helpful, share the episode with a friend and subscribe so you don’t miss the next one.

    20 min
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About

Lead with Clarity. Conquer Stress. Maximize Your Impact. The Calm & Confident Leader Podcast helps high-performing executives, professionals, and influencers shift from reactive & overwhelmed to intentional & unshakable. The real game-changers in leadership aren’t external, they’re internal: resilience, emotional mastery, & stress-proof leadership. Hosted by Coach, Strategist, and Author Jason Stonehouse, this podcast blends 30 years of leadership with a Master’s in Counseling to deliver real, practical, and sometimes humorous insights to help you lead with clarity, courage, and confidence.

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