A Geek Leader Podcast - inspiring technical and creative leaders around the world

John Rouda: technical leader, author, speaker, educator

The ultimate podcast for aspiring leaders in the creative or technology fields. John Rouda discusses leadership topics, interviews some of the greatest minds today and teaches you practical leadership tips, techniques, tricks and hacks to improve motivation, negotiation, and other much needed skills for leaders today.

  1. 6D AGO

    AGL 451: Dawn Andrews

    About Dawn Dawn Andrews is the Founder and CEO of Free Range Thinking, a boutique Business Strategy Consultancy that enables entrepreneurs to lead their businesses with unwavering confidence, intelligence, and passion. She’s an executive leadership coach, growth strategist, and acclaimed trainer and speaker. Her work includes collaborations with Maria Shriver, Shriver Media, and leading Women’s History Month programming for global pharmaceutical titan AbbVie. She’s been behind the scenes with the creative genius responsible for the feel-good blockbuster of summer 2023. No need for names – all you need to know is over one billion at the box office and counting. Up and down the “rolodex” (despite being fluent in cutting-edge communications tech, she still keeps it old school), her clientele’s achievements are EYE-POPPING: from being front and center on the campaign trail to building educational infrastructures in Africa, to catalyzing the end of the ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy, to winning Oscars, Emmys, and Tony awards, leaving indelible marks on audiences worldwide. Part of her power comes from her unique, creatively analytical approach, crafting growth strategies, enhancing communication skills, and augmenting leadership performance, all while amplifying organizational efficiency. Part of it comes from her no B.S., super real, super empathetic self. Always love. It may be tough sometimes, but it’s always love. And it ensures not just insane professional growth but thriving personal lives. She’s also the host of the She’s That Founder podcast, like your morning coffee, but for your soul and career ambitions. As the Female Leadership Accelerator (FMxLA) founder, she’s committed to amplifying the influence of the next generation of female leaders to make their reverberations felt in their communities, in the US, and across the globe. Her insights and perspectives have been sought by platforms such as The Oprah Winfrey Network, CBS, and CNN. And her passion project? What gets her up in the early am and keeps her up way past midnight? Advancing women. Because while the future might be female, Dawn’s making sure that future is now. Today We Talked About Background AI as a pressure valve… Burn out Communication Framework Vision Alignment Execution Clearing the path Comfort Zone Management to leadership Human to Enterprise management Ask AI. :) Digital Clones Fear Will AI take my job?? Accountability Systems Don’t make it personal Data with Daily Dashboards Transparency Advancement for Women Connect with Dawn LinkedIn Website Leave me a tip $ Click here to Donate to the show I hope you enjoyed this show, please head over to Apple Podcasts and subscribe and leave me a rating and review, even one sentence will help spread the word.  Thanks again!

    32 min
  2. JAN 2

    AGL 450: Barbara Wittmann

    About Barbara Barbara Wittmann is an author, entrepreneur, and leadership advisor known for helping leaders navigate the intersection of technology, culture, and human potential. With over 25 years of experience in IT strategy and digital innovation—including senior roles at SAP and the creation of multiple successful consultancies—Barbara brings a unique blend of technical expertise and people-centered leadership. Today, she focuses on what she calls Digital Wisdom: the skill of leading with clarity, ethics, and emotional intelligence in a rapidly evolving digital world. Through coaching, speaking, and writing, she supports executives, founders, and high-impact teams in building cultures where innovation, trust, and purpose can thrive. Originally from Germany and now based in Colorado, Barbara continues to inspire global audiences through her leadership philosophy, storytelling, and passion for aligning technology with what makes us deeply and authentically human. Today We Talked About Background Accidental Technologist Everyone Wants to be seen Wisdom is not tied to Age, its the willingness to explore yourself Software Test Cycles as a leadership Analogy The Digital Wisdom Collective Changing Culture Controlling Fear Limiting Beliefs Ask for forgiveness, not permission to change culture Trust Fun as a value Assumptions are the silent killer (must feel safe to share them) Curiosity Limiting Beliefs in Tech Leaders…. we’re not just 0 and 1 people Getting ahead of AI and Shadow IT Connect With Barbara LinkedIn Website Leave me a tip $ Click here to Donate to the show I hope you enjoyed this show, please head over to Apple Podcasts and subscribe and leave me a rating and review, even one sentence will help spread the word.  Thanks again!

    37 min
  3. 12/26/2025

    AGL 449: Rafsan Bhuiyan

    About Rafsan Rafsan Bhuiyan is a trailblazing U.S. Army veteran turned enterprise AI strategist, whose journey from battlefield discipline to cutting-edge innovation has redefined revenue operations for global businesses. As the Founder and CEO of OrionQ, he leads the charge in developing agentic AI platforms tailored for telecom and automotive dealerships—unlocking billions in untapped revenue through seamless automation and CRM integration. Under his vision, OrionQ isn’t just software; it’s a force multiplier that empowers sales teams to scale smarter, faster, and more humanely. A proud graduate of Colorado Technical University with a deep-rooted passion for data science and software development, Rafsan has channeled his technical prowess into real-world impact. From overcoming gritty challenges in the POS service industry to coaching leaders on AI adoption, he’s built a reputation as one of the top voices in artificial intelligence. His insights have graced platforms like Authority Magazine, where he recently shared C-suite wisdom on balancing AI’s power with human intuition, and his Medium writings inspire aspiring data scientists to pursue fulfilling, productive lives. Beyond the boardroom, Rafsan is a devoted dad, an avid growth coach, and an unyielding advocate for ethical AI that amplifies—not replaces—the human spark. Whether dissecting the $3 trillion enterprise revenue opportunity or sharing war stories from his military days, Rafsan’s blend of grit, geekery, and genuine curiosity makes him the ultimate podcast guest for anyone navigating the AI revolution. Tune in as he demystifies the future of work, one breakthrough at a time. Today We Talked About background Army AI Why make it easy for people. Know your people UI is not meant for the AI era The world is changing, and we should change with it LLMO – The next version of SEO What are some of the prompts that get business’s discovered? Human Way to AI Connect with Rafsan LinkedIn Website Leave me a tip $ Click here to Donate to the show I hope you enjoyed this show, please head over to Apple Podcasts and subscribe and leave me a rating and review, even one sentence will help spread the word.  Thanks again!

    35 min
  4. 12/19/2025

    AGL 448: MichaelAaron Flicker

    About MichaelAaron MichaelAaron Flicker is founder and president of XenoPsi Ventures, a brand incubator firm providing financial, marketing and intellectual capital to a growing portfolio of companies. He launched the business as a high school freshman 27 years ago in Ridgewood, NJ. Strategically, he focuses on managing XenoPsi Ventures portfolio of businesses, launching new companies and building equity-based partnerships with advertisers via XenoPsi Ventures’ innovative remuneration packages based on equity, not billable hours for services rendered. He is president of Method1, Function Growth and Z/Axis Strategies, three of XenoPsi Ventures professional services portfolio companies. He is also the president and founder of the Wellow compression sock e-commerce brand launched in November 2021 with no outside investment. He is a co-founder of the Consumer Behavior Lab in tandem with Richard Shotton. The CBL’s mission is to explore how behavioral science can be applied to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of media and marketing. In 2022, he was recognized as one of the “40 Under 40” by NJBIZ. He is a Board Advisor to Shady Rays and Frances Prescott. Between 2022 – 2024, XenoPsi was named every year to the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing private companies in America. MichaelAaron has worked with many of the country’s leading brands including Nike, JPMorgan Chase & Co, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, ACE Insurance, Chubb, & Evan Williams Bourbon. Outside of work, MichaelAaron is Executive Director of Super Science Saturday (a Northern New Jersey science extravaganza for kids), a loving husband, and father of three beautiful children. Today We Talked About Background Behavioral Science 17 Brands What is the “Why” behind what works Human Mind Not what we say, but how we behave Ikea affect Choices of words matter A->B Testing your leadership style Assume everyone has your best intention in mind Respond with open ended questions Connect with MichaelArron LinkedIn Book Podcast Leave me a tip $ Click here to Donate to the show I hope you enjoyed this show, please head over to Apple Podcasts and subscribe and leave me a rating and review, even one sentence will help spread the word.  Thanks again!

    33 min
  5. 12/12/2025

    AGL 447: Bogdan Micov

    About Bogdan Bogdan Micov is the go-to transformation expert for elite entrepreneurs, sales professionals, and leaders who want one thing: permanent emotional freedom – Fast. With deep mastery across NLP, Hypnosis, Timeline Paradigm techniques, Quantum Linguistics, and Polarity Integration, Bogdan created The BeRelentless Method™ – a surgical approach that deletes years of emotional baggage, identity friction, and subconscious sabotage in a single day. The Psychology of Calm Power: Why Cortisol Is Killing Your Performance From Overthinking to Overpowering: Deleting Your Emotional Brakes Stop Coping — Start Deleting: The End of Self-Help as You Know It Burnout Isn’t a Strategy Problem — It’s a System Glitch The Identity Reboot: Remembering Who You Were Before the Fear Set In After surviving a stroke at 33 and walking away from $50M+ in high-ticket sales, Bogdan rebuilt his life around one core truth: you don’t need more mindset work – you need deletion. Helped 300+ high-performers permanently eliminate internal blocks and friction Clients have collectively generated $25M+ in revenue post-transformation Survived a stroke and rebuilt his nervous system and performance from the ground up Creator of The BeRelentless Method™ and The Finger Snap Method™ His work is trusted by 300+ top performers across industries who were tired of managing their triggers, battling burnout, or hiding behind productivity hacks and finally wanting to feel clear, calm, and powerful from the inside out. This isn’t coaching. This is system re-coding Today We Talked About Emotions Brain Chemicals Freedom Stroke Ownership of your emotions Results Emotions coming from our Thinking…. Our meaning making process Conditioning – learning from past experiences Cause and Effect Emporement.. get out of that victim’s mindset Perspective Lenses – Deleting, Distorting, Generalizing What are your limiting beliefs? limiting decisions? Challenge the fruitfulness of your thoughts Weaken the belief Question how it serves you After it is removed, how would you feel Give examples Karate Connect with Bogdan LinkedIn Instagram – DM Bogda “Podcast” YouTube Leave me a tip $ Click here to Donate to the show I hope you enjoyed this show, please head over to Apple Podcasts and subscribe and leave me a rating and review, even one sentence will help spread the word.  Thanks again!

    53 min
  6. 11/21/2025

    AGL 444: Steven Werley

    About Steven Steven Werley is a father, husband, brother, son, former Army Ranger, marketer, and entrepreneur on a quest for purpose, hope, and growth. There is no singular theme to his work. Some pieces are geared toward business owners and marketing executives, while others speak to individuals like him who are still discovering their path in life. For Werley, writing serves as a form of therapy. He pursues it not for celebrity status, a book deal, or any ulterior motive, but simply as an outlet for his thoughts. If those thoughts happen to help others along the way, he views it as a welcome side effect. Werley has long considered the sharing of knowledge a rather primitive aspect of humanity. Wisdom and experience circulate widely, yet society often fails to prepare its children for life’s challenges—not from a lack of collective experience, but from an inability to prioritize the lessons imparted by parents, teachers, business leaders, scientists, doctors, and even politicians. He champions transparency above all. Those seeking hidden tricks to amass overnight millions, become beloved leaders, master parenting, or unlock the meaning of life may depart feeling unfulfilled. At the time of this writing, Werley is no world-renowned expert in any field, including parenting or business. As he has noted from the outset, growth remains one of his core goals. He aims to foster it by documenting his knowledge, goals, and learnings. If there is a single force to propel progress, it is the commitment to learn something new each day and to infuse love into every interaction. Among the most enduring lessons is that simple acts of kindness can unleash tidal-wave chains of events, rippling through the lives of countless others. Today We Talked About Military background Entrepreneurship Sales AI’s help with Sales Feedback loops “This is The Play“ Stoacism Connect with Steven Website LinkedIn Podcast Closable AI Leave me a tip $ Click here to Donate to the show I hope you enjoyed this show, please head over to Apple Podcasts and subscribe and leave me a rating and review, even one sentence will help spread the word.  Thanks again!

    31 min
4.9
out of 5
47 Ratings

About

The ultimate podcast for aspiring leaders in the creative or technology fields. John Rouda discusses leadership topics, interviews some of the greatest minds today and teaches you practical leadership tips, techniques, tricks and hacks to improve motivation, negotiation, and other much needed skills for leaders today.