The Leadership Contrarian

Michael Redman
  • 0.0 (0)
  • BUSINESS NEWS

Running a small business can often feel like paddling a boat upstream in a hurricane! Join Michael Redman, long-time business owner of Half a Bubble Out Leadership & Business Development, as he shares personal stories and expert tips for transforming your business into one that is profitable AND fulfilling. If you're looking for business and leadership advice, or just need some heartfelt encouragement on your entrepreneurial journey, this is the podcast for you!

  1. 11 APR

    Life's Storms: The Test of Resilience

    In Episode 007 of The Leadership Contrarian, Michael Redman, CEO of Half a Bubble Out, shares a deeply personal story that reveals what leadership really looks like when life doesn't go according to plan. When a sudden health crisis hits his family, everything accelerates—decisions, emotions, responsibilities—and the reality becomes clear: leadership isn't just about performance in stable moments. It's about what holds you steady when everything shifts at once. This conversation explores resilience not as a concept, but as something built over time—through faith, relationships, and the margins you create long before a crisis arrives. In this episode, you'll learn: • Why resilience isn't something you create in the moment • What leaders are actually carrying during seasons of uncertainty • The role of faith and daily grounding in staying steady • How relationships and inner circles strengthen your capacity • Why financial, time, and structural margin matter more than you think This episode is for leaders who want to grow their capacity before the storm hits—so when it does, they're not trying to hold everything together for the first time. 👉 Subscribe to The Leadership Contrarian newsletter: https://info.halfabubbleout.com/leadership-contrarian-newsletter

    12 min

  2. 4 APR

    Four Relational Disciplines That Shape Better Leaders

    In episode 006 of The Leadership Contrarian, Michael Redman, CEO of Half a Bubble Out, explores why leadership formation doesn't stop at the office door—and why the pressure leaders face at work often reveals what's been formed (or unformed) at home. Michael offers an encouraging and deeply practical message: four simple, proven relational disciplines practiced in marriage and family life that quietly strengthen leadership under pressure. These aren't marriage tips. They're formative practices—habits that shape presence, connection, repair, and posture when stress exposes what we truly believe and value. Drawing from decades of marriage, leadership, research, and lived experience, this conversation explores: Why compartmentalized leadership eventually breaks down How stress reveals formation in our closest relationships Four relational disciplines practiced at home that shape leadership everywhere The crossover between marital health and leadership capacity Why pressure doesn't build character—it reveals it This episode is for leaders who want to grow capacity without performing, fixing, or carrying everything alone—and who recognize that the health of their closest relationships quietly determines the strength of their leadership. 👉 Subscribe to The Leadership Contrarian newsletter: https://info.halfabubbleout.com/leadership-contrarian-newsletter -- Michael Redman | The Leadership Contrarian CEO of Half a Bubble Out Business & Leadership Development

    16 min

  3. 7 MAR

    Why Leadership Today Requires More Than Grit and Guts

    In episode 005 of The Leadership Contrarian, Michael Redman explores how our cultural picture of leadership has evolved—from the lone hero archetype to the kind of leadership required in today's organizations. Classic movie heroes like John Wayne taught us that leadership meant strength, certainty, and independence. But stories like Star Wars revealed a different kind of leadership—one where very different people must learn to trust each other and work together to overcome challenges. Modern leadership isn't about the lone hero riding in to save the day. It's about bringing people together, building trust, and helping teams succeed collectively. This episode introduces two of the five relational capabilities that research has shown to be foundational to effective leadership: Caring Connection and Fostering Team Play. Michael reviews how trust, honesty, and shared responsibility can transform both culture and performance. If leadership today requires more than grit and determination, the real question becomes: what skills actually allow leaders and teams to thrive together? 📩 Subscribe to The Leadership Contrarian Newsletter: https://www.halfabubbleout.com/   #LeadershipContrarian #BusinessLeadership #LeadershipDevelopment #TeamLeadership #ThoughtLeadership

    15 min
  4. Why I Chose to Call This Newsletter "The Leadership Contrarian"

    27 JAN

    Why I Chose to Call This Newsletter "The Leadership Contrarian"

    In Episode 004, Michael explains why he chose to call this newsletter The Leadership Contrarian, and why the name points to something much deeper than branding. Michael names a growing reality facing leaders today: the Formation Gap. It's the widening divide between the weight leaders are being asked to carry and the formation they've actually received to carry it well. As the world grows more volatile, faster, and less trustworthy, leadership has increasingly been reduced to shortcuts—tools without wisdom, performance without endurance, and success without stewardship. This episode explores: What the Formation Gap is and why it's growing The three forces creating pressure on modern leaders Why much of today's leadership advice is incomplete—or harmful What Formation-First Leadership really means Why leadership must be formed internally, relationally, and tactically Who this work is for—and why it matters now This is a call to whole leadership that endures without costing you your integrity, your family, or your inner life. 👉 Subscribe to The Leadership Contrarian newsletter: https://info.halfabubbleout.com/leadership-contrarian-newsletter — Michael Redman | The Leadership Contrarian CEO of Half a Bubble Out Business & Leadership Development

    7 min
  5. The 5 Core Elements of Creative Leadership

    24 JAN

    The 5 Core Elements of Creative Leadership

    In Episode #003 of The Leadership Contrarian, Michael Redman, CEO of Half a Bubble Out, explains why leadership can't be reduced to performance, personality, or hustle—and why sustainable leadership requires something deeper, more human, and more integrated. This conversation introduces the five core elements of Creative Leadership—not as tactics, but as parts of an internal operating system that allow leaders to grow results without burning out their lives, teams, or values. In this episode, you'll learn: What Creative Leadership really means Why leadership breakdowns aren't about effort or intelligence The five core elements that sustain healthy leadership over time How trust, awareness, authenticity, systems, and execution work together A simple question every leader should be asking right now This framework is for leaders who want to build something that lasts—without sacrificing their integrity, relationships, or joy in the process. 👉 Subscribe to The Leadership Contrarian email newsletter: https://www.halfabubbleout.com — Michael Redman | The Leadership Contrarian CEO of Half a Bubble Out Business & Leadership Development

    9 min
  6. Leading Through VUCA — When the World Won't Sit Still

    17 JAN

    Leading Through VUCA — When the World Won't Sit Still

    In Episode 002 of the The Leadership Contrarian, Michael Redman, CEO of Half a Bubble Out (HaBO), explores why leadership feels harder right now—and why that's not your imagination. We're living in a VUCA world: Volatility. Uncertainty. Complexity. Ambiguity. Drawing from a formative experience in 1980 and more than 20 years of working with leaders, Michael unpacks: What VUCA really means (and why it's personal) Why yesterday's leadership tools no longer work How resilient leaders stay grounded when everything feels unstable Why internal capacity—not external control—is the key to leading well in chaos This episode isn't about reacting faster or doing more. It's about becoming a steadier, more human, and more effective leader—without adding more to your plate. If you're navigating constant change, pressure, and uncertainty, this message will meet you right where you are. 👉 Subscribe to The Leadership Contrarian newsletter: https://www.halfabubbleout.com/  — Michael Redman | The Leadership Contrarian CEO of Half a Bubble Out Business & Leadership Development

    7 min
  7. A Holistic Life. A Healthy Business.

    27/12/2025

    A Holistic Life. A Healthy Business.

    Welcome to Episode #001 of The Leadership Contrarian — a new weekly series from Michael Redman, CEO of Half a Bubble Out. In this first episode, Michael shares why this message feels overdue—and why leaders were never meant to live or lead divided lives. After more than 20 years working with business owners and leadership teams, one truth has become clear: A healthy business starts with a holistic life. This episode explores: - Why leadership can't be siloed from life, faith, or family - The cost of a divided life - What it means to lead with integration, resilience, and purpose - What you can expect from The Leadership Contrarian moving forward If you're a leader craving more alignment, capacity, and sustainability—this series is for you. Subscribe to the newsletter: https://info.halfabubbleout.com/leadership-contrarian-newsletter

    6 min
  8. Is Holistic a 4-Letter Word in Business?

    04/04/2023

    Is Holistic a 4-Letter Word in Business?

    Michael and Kathryn define the term holistic in a business context and share examples of how holistic thinking can improve your company's growth. If you often find yourself working 'in the weeds' of your business, and want a new perspective, then this episode is for you!

    36 min
See All (205)

About

Running a small business can often feel like paddling a boat upstream in a hurricane! Join Michael Redman, long-time business owner of Half a Bubble Out Leadership & Business Development, as he shares personal stories and expert tips for transforming your business into one that is profitable AND fulfilling. If you're looking for business and leadership advice, or just need some heartfelt encouragement on your entrepreneurial journey, this is the podcast for you!

Information