The Bosshole® Chronicles

Real Good Ventures

Never waste a good opportunity to learn from a bad boss. Our guests and Subject Matter Experts share their stories about challenging, difficult, and even mean bosses that they have had through their careers. Hosts Sara Best and John Broer explore what happened, what made the relationship difficult, and even the role WE play in our Bosshole experiences. More importantly, we apply some of our insight and analysis around behavioral science and emotional intelligence so that we (and managers listening in) can learn from the experiences and avoid common Bosshole® Blunders. If you have questions or stories you want to share, contact us at info@realgoodventures.com

  1. 4D AGO

    Navigating Change and Uncertainty in the New Year (Part 1)

    Change isn’t new, but the pile-up is real. Between shifting budgets, reorgs, tech churn, and personal life turns, even strong teams feel their vitality drop. We open up a practical, empathetic way to navigate uncertainty using the change curve: status quo, disruption, exploration, and rebuilding. Instead of pretending the dip doesn’t exist, we name it, normalize it, and use simple moves to climb out—without burning people out or shaming them for human responses. Click HERE to download The Change CurveClick HERE for our episode on Change ReadinessClick HERE for our episode on Head, Heart, and BriefcaseHERE ARE MORE RESOURCES FROM REAL GOOD VENTURES: Never miss a good opportunity to learn from a bad boss... Click HERE to get your very own Reference Profile.  We use The Predictive Index as our analytics platform so you know it's validated and reliable.  Your Reference Profile informs you of your needs, behaviors, and the nuances of what we call your Behavioral DNA.  It also explains your work style, your strengths, and even the common traps in which you may find yourself.  It's a great tool to share with friends, family, and co-workers. Follow us on Instagram HERE and make sure to share with your network! Follow us on X HERE and make sure to share with your network! Provide your feedback HERE, please!  We love to hear from our listeners and welcome your thoughts and ideas about how to improve the podcast and even suggest topics and ideas for future episodes. Visit us at www.realgoodventures.com.  We are a Talent Optimization consultancy specializing in people and business execution analytics.  Real Good Ventures was founded by Sara Best and John Broer who are both Certified Talent Optimization Consultants with over 50 years of combined consulting and organizational performance experience.  Sara is also certified in EQi 2.0.  RGV is also a Certified Partner of Line-of-Sight, a powerful organizational health and execution platform.  RGV is known for its work in leadership development, executive coaching, and what we call organizational rebuild where we bring all our tools together to diagnose an organization's present state and how to grow toward a stronger future state.  Send us a text

    35 min
  2. TBC Flashback - The Fearless Organization with Dr. Amy Edmondson

    JAN 6

    TBC Flashback - The Fearless Organization with Dr. Amy Edmondson

    Click HERE for Amy's LinkedIn profile Click HERE to purchase The Fearless Organization Click HERE to purchase Teaming Click HERE to download "What is a Fearless Organization." Check out these other episodes on Psychological Safety: Aaron Dignan - Brave New WorkJohn and Sara - Psychological SafetyJohn and Sara - Above the Line, Below the Line HERE ARE MORE RESOURCES FROM REAL GOOD VENTURES: Never miss a good opportunity to learn from a bad boss... Click HERE to get your very own Reference Profile.  We use The Predictive Index as our analytics platform so you know it's validated and reliable.  Your Reference Profile informs you of your needs, behaviors, and the nuances of what we call your Behavioral DNA.  It also explains your work style, your strengths, and even the common traps in which you may find yourself.  It's a great tool to share with friends, family, and co-workers. Follow us on Instagram HERE and make sure to share with your network! Follow us on X HERE and make sure to share with your network! Provide your feedback HERE, please!  We love to hear from our listeners and welcome your thoughts and ideas about how to improve the podcast and even suggest topics and ideas for future episodes. Visit us at www.realgoodventures.com.  We are a Talent Optimization consultancy specializing in people and business execution analytics.  Real Good Ventures was founded by Sara Best and John Broer who are both Certified Talent Optimization Consultants with over 50 years of combined consulting and organizational performance experience.  Sara is also certified in EQi 2.0.  RGV is also a Certified Partner of Line-of-Sight, a powerful organizational health and execution platform.  RGV is known for its work in leadership development, executive coaching, and what we call organizational rebuild where we bring all our tools together to diagnose an organization's present state and how to grow toward a stronger future state.  Send us a text

    30 min
  3. 12/30/2025

    Resolutions for the 2026 Manager

    The final Tuesday of the year is the perfect moment to trade vague goals for practices that actually change teams. We share five manager resolutions for 2026 that cut through noise and target what matters most: self-reflection, psychological safety, emotional intelligence, a whole-person approach, and eliminating destructive behaviors that erode trust. HERE ARE MORE RESOURCES FROM REAL GOOD VENTURES: Never miss a good opportunity to learn from a bad boss... Click HERE to get your very own Reference Profile.  We use The Predictive Index as our analytics platform so you know it's validated and reliable.  Your Reference Profile informs you of your needs, behaviors, and the nuances of what we call your Behavioral DNA.  It also explains your work style, your strengths, and even the common traps in which you may find yourself.  It's a great tool to share with friends, family, and co-workers. Follow us on Instagram HERE and make sure to share with your network! Follow us on X HERE and make sure to share with your network! Provide your feedback HERE, please!  We love to hear from our listeners and welcome your thoughts and ideas about how to improve the podcast and even suggest topics and ideas for future episodes. Visit us at www.realgoodventures.com.  We are a Talent Optimization consultancy specializing in people and business execution analytics.  Real Good Ventures was founded by Sara Best and John Broer who are both Certified Talent Optimization Consultants with over 50 years of combined consulting and organizational performance experience.  Sara is also certified in EQi 2.0.  RGV is also a Certified Partner of Line-of-Sight, a powerful organizational health and execution platform.  RGV is known for its work in leadership development, executive coaching, and what we call organizational rebuild where we bring all our tools together to diagnose an organization's present state and how to grow toward a stronger future state.  Send us a text

    17 min
  4. 5th Anniversary Flashback - "Don't Bring Him Back..."

    12/16/2025

    5th Anniversary Flashback - "Don't Bring Him Back..."

    A fifth anniversary deserves a true origin story, and ours begins with a manager who meant well and nearly torched hard-won credibility. We rewind to the first Bosshole Chronicles episode and unpack two moments that shaped our mission: a plant visit where a leader faked fluency and a high-stakes client dinner that turned into a monologue. The details are uncomfortable on purpose—because every leader has felt the urge to fill silence, prove expertise, or take control at the worst time. HERE ARE MORE RESOURCES FROM REAL GOOD VENTURES: Never miss a good opportunity to learn from a bad boss... Click HERE to get your very own Reference Profile.  We use The Predictive Index as our analytics platform so you know it's validated and reliable.  Your Reference Profile informs you of your needs, behaviors, and the nuances of what we call your Behavioral DNA.  It also explains your work style, your strengths, and even the common traps in which you may find yourself.  It's a great tool to share with friends, family, and co-workers. Follow us on Instagram HERE and make sure to share with your network! Follow us on X HERE and make sure to share with your network! Provide your feedback HERE, please!  We love to hear from our listeners and welcome your thoughts and ideas about how to improve the podcast and even suggest topics and ideas for future episodes. Visit us at www.realgoodventures.com.  We are a Talent Optimization consultancy specializing in people and business execution analytics.  Real Good Ventures was founded by Sara Best and John Broer who are both Certified Talent Optimization Consultants with over 50 years of combined consulting and organizational performance experience.  Sara is also certified in EQi 2.0.  RGV is also a Certified Partner of Line-of-Sight, a powerful organizational health and execution platform.  RGV is known for its work in leadership development, executive coaching, and what we call organizational rebuild where we bring all our tools together to diagnose an organization's present state and how to grow toward a stronger future state.  Send us a text

    26 min
  5. Dr. George Reed - A Journey into Toxic Leadership

    12/09/2025

    Dr. George Reed - A Journey into Toxic Leadership

    What if the most dangerous person in your company is also your top performer on paper? We bring Dean and Professor Emeritus Dr. George Reed to unpack toxic leadership with a definition that cuts through opinion, ego, and excuses: it’s a sustained pattern of behavior that damages team climate over time. Not a bad day. Not a tough conversation. A measurable, persistent drag on safety, trust, retention, and results. Click HERE to connect with Dr. Reed on LinkedInClick HERE to order Tarnished: Toxic Leadership in the U.S. MilitaryHERE ARE MORE RESOURCES FROM REAL GOOD VENTURES: Never miss a good opportunity to learn from a bad boss... Click HERE to get your very own Reference Profile.  We use The Predictive Index as our analytics platform so you know it's validated and reliable.  Your Reference Profile informs you of your needs, behaviors, and the nuances of what we call your Behavioral DNA.  It also explains your work style, your strengths, and even the common traps in which you may find yourself.  It's a great tool to share with friends, family, and co-workers. Follow us on Instagram HERE and make sure to share with your network! Follow us on X HERE and make sure to share with your network! Provide your feedback HERE, please!  We love to hear from our listeners and welcome your thoughts and ideas about how to improve the podcast and even suggest topics and ideas for future episodes. Visit us at www.realgoodventures.com.  We are a Talent Optimization consultancy specializing in people and business execution analytics.  Real Good Ventures was founded by Sara Best and John Broer who are both Certified Talent Optimization Consultants with over 50 years of combined consulting and organizational performance experience.  Sara is also certified in EQi 2.0.  RGV is also a Certified Partner of Line-of-Sight, a powerful organizational health and execution platform.  RGV is known for its work in leadership development, executive coaching, and what we call organizational rebuild where we bring all our tools together to diagnose an organization's present state and how to grow toward a stronger future state.  Send us a text

    40 min
  6. 12/02/2025

    TBC Flashback - Are You Ready to Become a New Manager? (April 2024)

    Most promotions celebrate your past performance; leadership demands a different future. We’re pulling back the curtain on what it really takes to move from star individual contributor to effective first-time manager, with candid stories from Karen Schulman and sharp, field-tested tactics you can use today. If you’ve ever been “tapped on the shoulder” and told you’ll be great at managing because you’re great at your job, this conversation is your reality check—and your roadmap. Related TBC episodes: Making Mini Me'sIs it a Bosshole or a Tormentor?Jason Lauritsen - The Check-In Method™ HERE ARE MORE RESOURCES FROM REAL GOOD VENTURES: Never miss a good opportunity to learn from a bad boss... Click HERE to get your very own Reference Profile.  We use The Predictive Index as our analytics platform so you know it's validated and reliable.  Your Reference Profile informs you of your needs, behaviors, and the nuances of what we call your Behavioral DNA.  It also explains your work style, your strengths, and even the common traps in which you may find yourself.  It's a great tool to share with friends, family, and co-workers. Follow us on X HERE and make sure to share with your network! Provide your feedback HERE, please!  We love to hear from our listeners and welcome your thoughts and ideas about how to improve the podcast and even suggest topics and ideas for future episodes. Visit us at www.realgoodventures.com.  We are a Talent Optimization consultancy specializing in people and business execution analytics.  Real Good Ventures was founded by Sara Best and John Broer who are both Certified Talent Optimization Consultants with over 50 years of combined consulting and organizational performance experience.  Sara is also certified in EQi 2.0.  RGV is also a Certified Partner of Line-of-Sight, a powerful organizational health and execution platform.  RGV is known for its work in leadership development, executive coaching, and what we call organizational rebuild where we bring all our tools together to diagnose an organization's present state and how to grow toward a stronger future state. Send us a text

    33 min
  7. 11/25/2025

    Thanksgiving 2025 - "Thank you sir, may I have another!"

    Gratitude gets real when work gets hard. We mark Thanksgiving by leaning into the uncomfortable truth that thankfulness isn’t just for cozy moments—it’s a practical, biological, and leadership-level tool for moving from fight or flight into calm, focus, and connection. John and Sara reflect on why gratitude helps leaders navigate tough feedback, toxic dynamics, and the wider “emotional recession” many teams feel today. Click HERE for Mark Ostach's Gratitude JournalClick HERE for Sara's Gratitude & Appreciation worksheetSara and John - Gratitude in the WorkplaceHERE ARE MORE RESOURCES FROM REAL GOOD VENTURES: Never miss a good opportunity to learn from a bad boss... Click HERE to get your very own Reference Profile.  We use The Predictive Index as our analytics platform so you know it's validated and reliable.  Your Reference Profile informs you of your needs, behaviors, and the nuances of what we call your Behavioral DNA.  It also explains your work style, your strengths, and even the common traps in which you may find yourself.  It's a great tool to share with friends, family, and co-workers. Follow us on Instagram HERE and make sure to share with your network! Follow us on Twitter HERE and make sure to share with your network! Provide your feedback HERE, please!  We love to hear from our listeners and welcome your thoughts and ideas about how to improve the podcast and even suggest topics and ideas for future episodes. Visit us at www.realgoodventures.com.  We are a Talent Optimization consultancy specializing in people and business execution analytics.  Real Good Ventures was founded by Sara Best and John Broer who are both Certified Talent Optimization Consultants with over 50 years of combined consulting and organizational performance experience.  Sara is also certified in EQi 2.0.  RGV is also a Certified Partner of Line-of-Sight, a powerful organizational health and execution platform.  RGV is known for its work in leadership development, executive coaching, and what we call organizational rebuild where we bring all our tools together to diagnose an organization's present state and how to grow toward a stronger future state.  Send us a text

    23 min

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

Never waste a good opportunity to learn from a bad boss. Our guests and Subject Matter Experts share their stories about challenging, difficult, and even mean bosses that they have had through their careers. Hosts Sara Best and John Broer explore what happened, what made the relationship difficult, and even the role WE play in our Bosshole experiences. More importantly, we apply some of our insight and analysis around behavioral science and emotional intelligence so that we (and managers listening in) can learn from the experiences and avoid common Bosshole® Blunders. If you have questions or stories you want to share, contact us at info@realgoodventures.com

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