The Leadership Multiverse

Ellen Daniels & Andrew Chamberlain

The Leadership Multiverse dives deep into the galaxies of sci-fi, superhero, and fantasy cinema and television to explore what it really means to lead. In each episode, we dissect the decisions, styles, and values of iconic characters like Tony Stark, Princess Leia, Ned Stark, Captain Kirk, and beyond, unpacking their triumphs, tribulations and everything in between. Whether you’re a leadership aficionado, a pop culture junkie, or just wondering if Darth Vader could delegate effectively, this is the podcast where fandom meets the front lines of leadership.

  1. 1 day ago

    When Winning Isn’t Enough: High-Performing Teams in Science Fiction with Petra Velzeboer

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Leadership Multiverse, Ellen is joined by Petra Velzeboer- author, speaker and mental health consultant, for a conversation about high-performing teams, trust, culture and what science fiction and pop culture can teach us about how people work together. From the Avengers and Star Trek to Lord of the Rings, Wonder Woman, Captain Pike and even venturing outside of science fiction to the fantastic Ted Lasso, Ellen and Petra explore what really makes a team effective. Is success just about winning the mission, or does it also depend on how people recover, debrief, challenge each other and keep going afterwards? They discuss psychological safety, groupthink, charismatic leaders, the danger of over-relying on one exceptional person, and the often-undervalued “glue” role: the person who helps hold a team together, connects different personalities, and makes collaboration possible. Along the way, they ask why fictional teams make it easier to talk about real workplace issues, from ego and conflict to trust, dissent, burnout, belonging, and how it's possible for unhealthy teams like the Avengers to actually be successful in saving the world, more than once! A great conversation about superheroes, starships, culture, death, curiosity, and why sometimes the quietest person in the room might be the one holding the whole team together. Find out more about Petra Velzeboer: Website: https://www.petravelzeboer.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/petra-velzeboer/  Support the show Follow The Leadership Multiverse: Website: www.leadershipmultiverse.com Newsletter: https://leadershipmultiverse.substack.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-leadership-multiverse  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadershipmultiverse/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@leadershipmultive?lang=en Connect with Ellen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellen-daniels-3b831279

    When Winning Isn’t Enough: High-Performing Teams in Science Fiction with Petra Velzeboer

  2. 30 Sept

    Farscape: Rygel, Crichton and Leading a Crew of Misfits with Peter Davidson

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Ellen is joined by Peter Davidson, Chief Executive of the Tank Storage Association, to explore leadership through the excellent cult 90s television show Farscape. Originally meant to focus on Rygel- former ruler, reluctant team member, survivor, schemer, and perhaps one of sci-fi’s most unlikely leadership case studies, Ellen and Peter end up looking at the many different leadership styles across the series. They discuss flawed leaders, unlikely teams, the dangers of ego, and why leadership is sometimes about understanding people’s strengths, earning trust, and how an unlikely crew, where the human is the odd one out, manage to succeed as a functioning team. From Crichton’s creative problem-solving and outsider perspective to the rigid command structures of the Peacekeepers, the steady and constant presence of Pilot, and the threats that force the crew of the sentient ship, Moya, to adapt, they explore what Farscape can teach us about power, trust, survival, and leading when there isn't one true captain of the ship. Support the show Follow The Leadership Multiverse: Website: www.leadershipmultiverse.com Newsletter: https://leadershipmultiverse.substack.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-leadership-multiverse  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadershipmultiverse/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@leadershipmultive?lang=en Connect with Ellen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellen-daniels-3b831279

    Farscape: Rygel, Crichton and Leading a Crew of Misfits with Peter Davidson

  3. 16 Sept

    Tifa Lockhart- Final Fantasy with Becca Allan

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Ellen is joined by author, streamer and her co-host on Beam Me Up, Gandalf!, Becca Allan, to explore a fictional universe that has been part of Becca’s life since childhood: Final Fantasy. They talk about the characters who shaped Becca’s love of the series and influenced her creatively, including Tifa Lockhart, before diving into the different types of leadership across the games. From Tifa and Cloud to the even some supporting characters, they explore leadership, teamwork, responsibility and resilience in the face of identity crises. They also look at what makes video games unique from a leadership perspective: unlike a film or TV series, you don’t just watch characters make decisions, you live them, make choices, build teams and experience situations through characters with their own personalities, strengths and leadership styles. Support the show Follow The Leadership Multiverse: Website: www.leadershipmultiverse.com Newsletter: https://leadershipmultiverse.substack.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-leadership-multiverse  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadershipmultiverse/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@leadershipmultive?lang=en Connect with Ellen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellen-daniels-3b831279

    Tifa Lockhart- Final Fantasy with Becca Allan

  4. 16 Jun

    Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

    Send us Fan Mail This week Andrew and Ellen swing into the Spider-Verse to examine Peter Parker, Miles Morales, Gwen Stacy and Spider-Man Noir: heroes, emerging leaders, reluctant mentors, and different versions of what responsibility can become. They explore whether Spider-Man is really a leader at all, asking when responsibility becomes over-functioning, when sacrifice becomes martyrdom, and what happens when talented young people are used but not properly nurtured. Along the way, they discuss mentoring, reverse mentoring, burnout, succession planning, kindness, cynicism, emotional honesty, and why “with great power comes great responsibility” is not much help if nobody teaches you how to carry it. A layered, multiversal and surprisingly human leadership case study. Support the show Follow The Leadership Multiverse: Website: www.leadershipmultiverse.com Newsletter: https://leadershipmultiverse.substack.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-leadership-multiverse  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadershipmultiverse/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@leadershipmultive?lang=en Connect with Ellen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellen-daniels-3b831279

    Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

  5. 9 Jun

    Sarah Connor

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Leadership Multiverse, Ellen is joined by keynote speaker, former military officer, intelligence specialist and business leader Stuart Barker to explore the leadership lessons of one of science fiction’s most unlikely heroes: Sarah Connor. From waitress to warrior, protector to mentor, Sarah Connor’s journey across the Terminator franchise is a masterclass in leadership under pressure. She has no title, no formal authority and no special powers. Yet she becomes a leader capable of influencing others, preparing for an uncertain future and making difficult decisions in the face of overwhelming adversity. If leadership is ultimately about influence, courage and preparing others for a future you may never see yourself, Sarah Connor might be one of science fiction’s most compelling leadership case studies. Listen now for a fascinating discussion about crisis leadership, resilience and the power of purpose. Support the show Follow The Leadership Multiverse: Website: www.leadershipmultiverse.com Newsletter: https://leadershipmultiverse.substack.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-leadership-multiverse  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadershipmultiverse/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@leadershipmultive?lang=en Connect with Ellen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellen-daniels-3b831279

    Sarah Connor

  6. 2 Jun

    Katniss Everdeen

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Leadership Multiverse, Ellen is joined by special guest, Elisa Pratt to explore the leadership lessons of Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games. Katniss is not a conventional leader. She doesn't seek power, status or a platform. She steps forward to protect her sister and becomes, almost against her will, a symbol of resistance, hope and disruption. That makes her a fascinating study in reluctant leadership, authenticity, personal brand and the uncomfortable politics of being turned into a figurehead. Ellen and Elisa discuss Katniss as an imperfect but powerful leader: reactive, principled, emotionally driven, sometimes strategic, often resistant to being managed, and deeply shaped by the world around her. They consider what her story reveals about symbolic leadership, volunteer leadership, board dynamics, political performance, influence, empathy, rebellion and the limits of charisma. Along the way, they ask whether Katniss belongs more naturally in Star Wars, Star Trek or the Avengers, whether she deserves more credit as a transformational leader, and why the messiest leaders are often the most interesting. A thoughtful, lively conversation about the Mockingjay, leadership under pressure, and what happens when the person everyone follows never really wanted to lead. Support the show Follow The Leadership Multiverse: Website: www.leadershipmultiverse.com Newsletter: https://leadershipmultiverse.substack.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-leadership-multiverse  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadershipmultiverse/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@leadershipmultive?lang=en Connect with Ellen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellen-daniels-3b831279

    Katniss Everdeen

  7. 26 May

    Daenerys Targaryen: The Mother of Dragons

    Send us Fan Mail This week Andrew and Ellen enter Westeros to examine Daenerys Targaryen: liberator, revolutionary, symbol-maker, and ultimately a deeply dangerous leader. They explore her journey from vulnerable exile to Mother of Dragons, asking when moral clarity becomes absolutism, when vision turns into destiny, and why charisma without accountability can become catastrophic. Along the way, they discuss trauma, founder syndrome, symbolic leadership, emotional volatility, weak systems, poor succession, and why “breaking the wheel” is not much use if you replace it with fire. A fascinating, conflicted and occasionally scorching leadership case study. Literally. Support the show Follow The Leadership Multiverse: Website: www.leadershipmultiverse.com Newsletter: https://leadershipmultiverse.substack.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-leadership-multiverse  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadershipmultiverse/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@leadershipmultive?lang=en Connect with Ellen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellen-daniels-3b831279

    Daenerys Targaryen: The Mother of Dragons

  8. 19 May

    Steve Rogers: Captain America

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Leadership Multiverse, Andrew and Ellen take on Steve Rogers, better known as Captain America, and ask whether he really deserves his reputation as one of popular culture’s clearest examples of values-based leadership under pressure. The discussion explores his moral clarity, courage, calm crisis leadership and ability to build followership in moments of danger. It also asks harder questions about his rigidity, his difficulty with compromise, his loyalty to Bucky, the breakdown of the Avengers, and whether principled leadership can become destabilising when it leaves too little room for accountability, ambiguity and other people’s perspectives. Along the way, Andrew and Ellen consider the Sokovia Accords, Civil War, sacrifice, emotional intelligence, operational command, and whether Steve Rogers would survive in Starfleet, Star Wars, The Boys, Game of Thrones or DC. Spoiler: Andrew remains deeply unconvinced. A lively episode on moral leadership, wartime leadership, personal loyalty, and the difference between being worthy and being easy to work with. Support the show Follow The Leadership Multiverse: Website: www.leadershipmultiverse.com Newsletter: https://leadershipmultiverse.substack.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-leadership-multiverse  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadershipmultiverse/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@leadershipmultive?lang=en Connect with Ellen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellen-daniels-3b831279

    Steve Rogers: Captain America
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Ratings & Reviews

4.3
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

The Leadership Multiverse dives deep into the galaxies of sci-fi, superhero, and fantasy cinema and television to explore what it really means to lead. In each episode, we dissect the decisions, styles, and values of iconic characters like Tony Stark, Princess Leia, Ned Stark, Captain Kirk, and beyond, unpacking their triumphs, tribulations and everything in between. Whether you’re a leadership aficionado, a pop culture junkie, or just wondering if Darth Vader could delegate effectively, this is the podcast where fandom meets the front lines of leadership.

Information

  • Creator
    Ellen Daniels & Andrew Chamberlain
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    26
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Leadership Multiverse
  • Show Website
    The Leadership Multiverse