THE BOLT Podcast

Todd Bertsch
  • 5.0 (42)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The BOLT Podcast: Ignite Your Spark for Leadership, Growth, and Positive Transformation Welcome to The BOLT Podcast, the go-to personal growth and leadership development podcast for entrepreneurs, executives, HR professionals, and everyday leaders who want to ignite their spark, cultivate a growth mindset, and achieve lasting transformation. Hosted by Todd Bertsch—motivational keynote speaker, Positive Intelligence® (PQ) Mental Fitness Coach, entrepreneur, and CEO with over 16 years of leadership experience—this show delivers the energy, inspiration, and actionable strategies you need to thrive in work and life. Every episode of The BOLT is packed with practical tools for personal development, mindset mastery, emotional intelligence, and leadership growth. Todd and his world-class guests—bestselling authors, TEDx speakers, CEOs, athletes, educators, and nonprofit leaders—share authentic stories of resilience, reinvention, and curiosity-driven success. Together, they reveal how small shifts in mindset can spark massive results, both personally and professionally. If you’re looking for strategies to overcome fear and resistance to change, rewire negative thought patterns, and embrace a growth-oriented approach to leadership, The BOLT delivers exactly what you need. Listeners gain insight into: Leadership development & executive coaching: How leaders build cultures of resilience, curiosity, and connection.Positive Intelligence® tools: Science-backed methods for strengthening mental fitness, quieting inner saboteurs, and activating your Sage brain.Personal growth & mindset mastery: Transforming fixed thinking into growth-focused action.Corporate training & team performance: Strategies for building high-performing, mentally fit teams.Workplace well-being & productivity: Preventing burnout, reducing stress, and sustaining peak energy.Life transformation & self-leadership: Real stories of turning obstacles into opportunities and pain into purpose. Todd brings his unique blend of experience as a CEO, entrepreneur, coach, and motivational speaker to every conversation. After personally going through the Positive Intelligence® program and experiencing life-changing results backed by science and brain imaging, he built a thriving coaching and training practice. Today, he helps leaders and teams harness the power of mental fitness and mindset shifts to achieve clarity, resilience, and high performance. Through keynote speaking engagements, corporate training programs, and PQ coaching cohorts, Todd has empowered countless leaders and organizations to break free from self-doubt, embrace change with confidence, and build cultures of positivity and high performance. On The BOLT, he shares these same tools, stories, and strategies—free and accessible to anyone who wants to grow. Whether you’re a business owner navigating change, an executive leading through uncertainty, a team leader shaping culture, or simply someone passionate about becoming the best version of yourself, this podcast is your spark. Expect insightful interviews, motivational storytelling, and actionable steps that you can immediately apply to your work, relationships, and personal growth journey. ⚡ The BOLT Podcast: Where personal growth meets leadership transformation, and where every conversation helps you ignite the spark that changes everything.

  1. From Change Management to Meaningful Change Leadership with Leslie Ellis

    FEB 11

    From Change Management to Meaningful Change Leadership with Leslie Ellis

    The hardest part of change isn’t the plan or the platform—it’s leadership. In this episode, Todd sits down with Leslie Ellis, CEO of Meaningful Change Consulting, to unpack why transformations stall and how leaders can turn constant disruption into a durable advantage. Drawing from work across dozens of organizations and nearly a million stakeholders, Leslie shares a powerful truth: change doesn’t fail because people resist—it fails when leaders stop listening. Together, they explore how mindset, alignment, and simple micro-shifts build trust, reduce rework, and create lasting impact. Topics Discussed Leslie’s origin story and shift from execution-focused change to change leadershipWhy leader habits and blind spots quietly drain momentum and create reworkThe myth of change as a one-time event and why alignment beats speedPsychological safety, fail-fast learning, and building a learning culturePractical micro-shifts: listening first, asking open questions, and embracing silenceUsing resets, better language, and vulnerability to engage people in changeConscious business: designing for systemic health, not just short-term profitBuilding a “change muscle” so future transformations get easierRecommended reads and the types of leaders and organizations Leslie supportsHow to connect with Meaningful Change ConsultingIf this conversation sparked something for you, share it with someone navigating change—and help more leaders find the show by subscribing and leaving a review. https://www.toddbertsch.com/podcast/meaningful-change-leadership-with-leslie-ellis Thanks for listening! We appreciate you. Follow us at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddmbertsch/ https://www.facebook.com/theboltwithtoddb https://www.instagram.com/theboltwithtoddb/ https://www.youtube.com/@theboltwithtoddb ⚡ Ready to ignite lasting transformation in your team or event? Book me for keynotes, corporate training, or Positive Intelligence® coaching at ToddBertsch.com

    57 min
  2. Leading Into Tomorrow: 2026 HR Trends Shaping the Workplace with David Noe

    JAN 28

    Leading Into Tomorrow: 2026 HR Trends Shaping the Workplace with David Noe

    Burnout is rising, trust is fragile, and the old playbook of perks over people is running out of steam. In this episode, we sit down with David Noe, a trusted voice in HR, to unpack what actually drives engagement today, and what leaders must rethink as we head into 2026. We name the tension leaders feel every day: caring for people while still hitting targets. David shares the reset question every manager should ask, what makes your job harder than it needs to be, and how it quickly surfaces fixable blockers. From there, we explore why middle managers burn out first, how bloated spans of control erode trust, and why hybrid and flexible work are now baseline expectations, not perks. The throughline is clear: culture isn’t built by systems alone. Leadership behavior, clarity, and consistency set the tone, and when people feel seen, supported, and empowered, performance follows. Topics Discussed Disengagement and burnout data framing today’s workplace realityThe top HR trends shaping 2026Why trust and clarity are breaking down at workBalancing care for people with performance expectationsLessons from losing—and rebuilding—company cultureThe power of asking: what makes work harder than it needs to be?Manager span of control and why middle management burns out firstHybrid and flexible work as a baseline expectationReturn-to-office pressure, tradeoffs, and role realitiesUsing surveys effectively: cadence, follow-through, and transparencyOne-on-one questions that unlock insight and motivationEmpathy, EQ, and tailoring feedback to different peoplePeer recognition and the ripple effect of saying “thank you”Why behavior beats systems—and what gives hope for the future of workhttps://www.toddbertsch.com/podcast/2026-hr-trends-shaping-the-workplace-with-david-noe Thanks for listening! We appreciate you. Follow us at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddmbertsch/ https://www.facebook.com/theboltwithtoddb https://www.instagram.com/theboltwithtoddb/ https://www.youtube.com/@theboltwithtoddb ⚡ Ready to ignite lasting transformation in your team or event? Book me for keynotes, corporate training, or Positive Intelligence® coaching at ToddBertsch.com

    58 min
  3. The Long Game of Leadership: Curiosity, Humility, and Impact with Harvey Nelson

    JAN 14

    The Long Game of Leadership: Curiosity, Humility, and Impact with Harvey Nelson

    Season Two launches with Harvey Nelson, entrepreneur, mentor, and lifelong explorer, as we walk through the SPARK Framework (Curiosity, Mindset, Action, Growth, Impact) using stories that are funny, raw, and immediately practical. From hitchhiking across America to leading through real business crises, Harvey shares how small, repeatable choices build resilience, how focus and priority beat busyness, and why people-first leadership creates lasting success. You’ll leave with simple, doable moves: stack one-inch wins, take the next brave step, and let curiosity guide you to better questions and a bigger life. Why curiosity lowers fear and opens doors.Hitchhiking lessons: people, discomfort, and learning fast.Small bets build risk tolerance and resilience over time.People-first leadership, even helping great talent move on.Crisis story: storm + freezer system failure and “next step” thinking.Mental fitness in action: pause, reframe, choose a micro-action.Priority over time: focus, say no, protect what matters.Self-awareness tools: gratitude, visualization, and “rambling” writing.Takeaway: one-inch wins and “be who you want to become.”Closing line: “Life becomes what you make it—so make it be grand.”https://www.toddbertsch.com/podcast/the-long-game-of-leadership-with-harvey-nelson Thanks for listening! We appreciate you. Follow us at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddmbertsch/ https://www.facebook.com/theboltwithtoddb https://www.instagram.com/theboltwithtoddb/ https://www.youtube.com/@theboltwithtoddb ⚡ Ready to ignite lasting transformation in your team or event? Book me for keynotes, corporate training, or Positive Intelligence® coaching at ToddBertsch.com

    1h 5m
  4. Best of the BOLT: Leadership Wisdom That Ignited Season One (Part 2)

    12/29/2025

    Best of the BOLT: Leadership Wisdom That Ignited Season One (Part 2)

    We cap season one with a best-of collection on growth, resilience, and people-first leadership, stitching together the most impactful insights from several candid conversations. We share tools to clarify purpose, break free from restraints, recover well, and design a life you truly choose. Guests who were highlighted on this special episode: Dan Flanagan: Redefining success through small wins and setbacksJohn Geraghty: Clarifying purpose via values and natural giftsScott Hubble: People‑first leadership and the contagion of careKat Polsinelli: Solitude, self‑love, and belonging without silosJohn Bernatovicz: Becoming selfish to become selfless for impactPeter Rea: Weakening restraining forces to enable virtueDenise Logan: Defining success your wayGreta Johnson: Rest and recovery as strength against burnoutBen Hatta: Grit, 1% better, and transferable disciplineFrank Agin: Building real relationshipsMolly Ketcham: Curiosity for deeper influence and connection Carolyn Cooper: Simplify to focus on what matters mostBob Burg: Bringing immense value to the lives of othersNatalie Siston: Joy practices that raise satisfaction and outputKemp Boyd: Being before doing to guide authentic actionEric Collett: Brain health as hardware for focus and speedJustin Hilton: Design a life with intention and clear goalsDave Loomis: Customer outsight to serve before sellingSam Falletta: Dignity and respect driving loyalty and performancehttps://www.toddbertsch.com/podcast/best-of-the-bolt-season-one-part-2 Thanks for listening! We appreciate you. Follow us at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddmbertsch/ https://www.facebook.com/theboltwithtoddb https://www.instagram.com/theboltwithtoddb/ https://www.youtube.com/@theboltwithtoddb ⚡ Ready to ignite lasting transformation in your team or event? Book me for keynotes, corporate training, or Positive Intelligence® coaching at ToddBertsch.com

    26 min
  5. Best of the BOLT: Leadership Wisdom That Ignited Season One (Part 1)

    12/19/2025

    Best of the BOLT: Leadership Wisdom That Ignited Season One (Part 1)

    We celebrate a season dedicated to growth and service with a curated highlight reel on mindset, habits, leadership, and fulfillment. Guests share tools for tiny wins, deeper listening, sober clarity, and the discipline that turns choices into lasting change. Guests that were highlighted on this special episode: Kristoffer Carter: Coaching As Heart Set And Meditation - View full episodeTodd Blyleven: Courage, Service, And Real Leadership - View full episodeTiffany Lewis: Fulfillment, Motherhood, And Ambition - View full episodeChristine Hockman: One Degree Shifts Philosophy - View full episodeScott J. Allen: Who You Are Is How You Lead - View full episodeJason Winkler: Vulnerability, Ownership, And Trust - View full episodeTracy Jepson: Build A Business Not A Job - View full episodeTravis Bornstein: Leadership, Advocacy, and Healing - View full episodeDr. Laura Aldape: Rewiring Mindsets At The Mental Gym - View full episodeKenneth Coach Jo-Jo Smith: Chase The Journey Not The Odds - View full episodeDr. Nate Salah: Servant Leadership: Listen, Empathize, Heal - View full episodeLori Saitz: Gratitude As Felt Joy - View full episodeJanice Porter: Networking That Starts With Follow Up - View full episodeMichael Levitt: Growth Over Comfort And Self Care - View full episodeDan Flowers: Character And Long Relationships - View full episodeAmy Wong: Tiny Wins And Celebrating Momentum - View full episodeJosh Phelan: Strategic Health And Risk Management - View full episodeLei Wang: Leadership Lessons from the Edge - View full episodeMarc Majers: If You Stop Learning, You Stop Leading - View full episodehttps://www.toddbertsch.com/podcast/best-of-the-bolt-season-one-part-1 Thanks for listening! We appreciate you. Follow us at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddmbertsch/ https://www.facebook.com/theboltwithtoddb https://www.instagram.com/theboltwithtoddb/ https://www.youtube.com/@theboltwithtoddb ⚡ Ready to ignite lasting transformation in your team or event? Book me for keynotes, corporate training, or Positive Intelligence® coaching at ToddBertsch.com

    30 min
  6. The Spark Behind Great Workplaces: Sam Falletta on Leadership, Change, and Culture

    11/25/2025

    The Spark Behind Great Workplaces: Sam Falletta on Leadership, Change, and Culture

    Sam Falletta went from a four-cubicle call center to president, owner, and leader of a values-driven sale. In this episode, he breaks down how he built an award-winning culture by focusing on what employees truly need: strengths-based leadership, real-life support, meaningful incentives, and coaching that shifts mindsets. We explore why most engagement efforts fall flat, how culture changes in a remote world, and the personal reasons behind his decision to step back and choose presence over pressure. We close with Capiches, his collection of bite-sized life lessons inspired by his dad. This episode is packed with practical insight for leaders who want to build trust, retain talent, and create workplaces that genuinely work. What we discuss in this episode: Choosing a scrappy start over a safe pathLeading with dignity and measurable outcomesEngagement vs turnover and Maslow’s realityRedesigning incentives to match real needsOn-site counseling and appreciative inquiryPay-for-performance and client-aligned metricsRemote work’s cultural costs and fixesHow and why to choose the right buyerCapicias as a community for life lessonshttps://www.toddbertsch.com/podcast/sam-falletta-on-leadership-change-culture/ Thanks for listening! We appreciate you. Follow us at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddmbertsch/ https://www.facebook.com/theboltwithtoddb https://www.instagram.com/theboltwithtoddb/ https://www.youtube.com/@theboltwithtoddb ⚡ Ready to ignite lasting transformation in your team or event? Book me for keynotes, corporate training, or Positive Intelligence® coaching at ToddBertsch.com

    1h 1m
  7. The Curious Leader with Dave Loomis: Lessons from 10,000 Conversations

    11/05/2025

    The Curious Leader with Dave Loomis: Lessons from 10,000 Conversations

    In this episode of The BOLT Podcast, Dave Loomis, founder of Loomis Marketing and author of Customer Outsight, shares powerful lessons from conducting over 10,000 customer interviews. Drawing from decades of experience with Fortune 500 companies, Dave explores how curiosity, empathy, and active listening can transform leadership and organizational growth. Together, we unpack what it truly means to lead with outsight—seeing beyond yourself to better understand, connect, and inspire those you serve. What we discuss in this episode: Nonlinear career paths shaping service mindsetValue of executive coaching and accountabilityServant leadership as a growth advantageCustomer Outsight and the four Fs frameworkHow to plan and run open interviewsFinding gemstones and using AI for analysisTurning insights into clear messaging and offersLeadership lessons on integrity and initiativehttps://www.toddbertsch.com/podcast/the-curious-leader-with-dave-loomis Thanks for listening! We appreciate you. Follow us at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddmbertsch/ https://www.facebook.com/theboltwithtoddb https://www.instagram.com/theboltwithtoddb/ https://www.youtube.com/@theboltwithtoddb ⚡ Ready to ignite lasting transformation in your team or event? Book me for keynotes, corporate training, or Positive Intelligence® coaching at ToddBertsch.com

    59 min
  8. First, Next, Only: Trailblazing Leadership with Justin Hilton

    10/21/2025

    First, Next, Only: Trailblazing Leadership with Justin Hilton

    In this powerful episode, Leadership Akron President and CEO Justin Hilton joins host Todd Bertsch to explore what it truly means to be a trailblazer. From his journey as the first African-American architect intern under Robert P. Madison to his leadership across higher education, corporate, and nonprofit sectors, Justin shares lessons on courage, context, and curiosity. He opens up about vulnerability, faith, mentorship, and the power of designing not just a career—but a life. A conversation filled with wisdom, humility, and hope for the next generation of leaders.  Discussion points from this episode: People over tasks as a transferable leadership principleBuilding a personal board for wisdom, peers, and serviceThe legacy of Robert P. Madison and the gift of beliefReframing sleep disorder and limits into resilienceRedefining success as who you become in pursuitUsing design thinking to architect your lifeArt, vulnerability, and meeting your past selfPractical steps to schedule your inner circleMental fitness tools for stress, clarity, and growthhttps://www.toddbertsch.com/podcast/trailblazing-leadership-with-justin-hilton Thanks for listening! We appreciate you. Follow us at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddmbertsch/ https://www.facebook.com/theboltwithtoddb https://www.instagram.com/theboltwithtoddb/ https://www.youtube.com/@theboltwithtoddb ⚡ Ready to ignite lasting transformation in your team or event? Book me for keynotes, corporate training, or Positive Intelligence® coaching at ToddBertsch.com

    1h 2m
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5
out of 5
42 Ratings

About

The BOLT Podcast: Ignite Your Spark for Leadership, Growth, and Positive Transformation Welcome to The BOLT Podcast, the go-to personal growth and leadership development podcast for entrepreneurs, executives, HR professionals, and everyday leaders who want to ignite their spark, cultivate a growth mindset, and achieve lasting transformation. Hosted by Todd Bertsch—motivational keynote speaker, Positive Intelligence® (PQ) Mental Fitness Coach, entrepreneur, and CEO with over 16 years of leadership experience—this show delivers the energy, inspiration, and actionable strategies you need to thrive in work and life. Every episode of The BOLT is packed with practical tools for personal development, mindset mastery, emotional intelligence, and leadership growth. Todd and his world-class guests—bestselling authors, TEDx speakers, CEOs, athletes, educators, and nonprofit leaders—share authentic stories of resilience, reinvention, and curiosity-driven success. Together, they reveal how small shifts in mindset can spark massive results, both personally and professionally. If you’re looking for strategies to overcome fear and resistance to change, rewire negative thought patterns, and embrace a growth-oriented approach to leadership, The BOLT delivers exactly what you need. Listeners gain insight into: Leadership development & executive coaching: How leaders build cultures of resilience, curiosity, and connection.Positive Intelligence® tools: Science-backed methods for strengthening mental fitness, quieting inner saboteurs, and activating your Sage brain.Personal growth & mindset mastery: Transforming fixed thinking into growth-focused action.Corporate training & team performance: Strategies for building high-performing, mentally fit teams.Workplace well-being & productivity: Preventing burnout, reducing stress, and sustaining peak energy.Life transformation & self-leadership: Real stories of turning obstacles into opportunities and pain into purpose. Todd brings his unique blend of experience as a CEO, entrepreneur, coach, and motivational speaker to every conversation. After personally going through the Positive Intelligence® program and experiencing life-changing results backed by science and brain imaging, he built a thriving coaching and training practice. Today, he helps leaders and teams harness the power of mental fitness and mindset shifts to achieve clarity, resilience, and high performance. Through keynote speaking engagements, corporate training programs, and PQ coaching cohorts, Todd has empowered countless leaders and organizations to break free from self-doubt, embrace change with confidence, and build cultures of positivity and high performance. On The BOLT, he shares these same tools, stories, and strategies—free and accessible to anyone who wants to grow. Whether you’re a business owner navigating change, an executive leading through uncertainty, a team leader shaping culture, or simply someone passionate about becoming the best version of yourself, this podcast is your spark. Expect insightful interviews, motivational storytelling, and actionable steps that you can immediately apply to your work, relationships, and personal growth journey. ⚡ The BOLT Podcast: Where personal growth meets leadership transformation, and where every conversation helps you ignite the spark that changes everything.

Information

  • Creator
    Todd Bertsch
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    53
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 THE BOLT Podcast
  • Show Website
    THE BOLT Podcast