Free To Lead

Will Steel
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

Free to Lead is dedicated to showcasing not just the journeys of business owners and executives from various industries who are making significant impacts in their fields, but also some of what each of them dealt with along the way, and what they are dealing with now. Hosted by Will Steel, one of the world’s most highly regarded transformational leaders, the podcast delves into the stories of visionary business owners and leaders who are not only driven by their passion but also inspired by their purpose.

  1. 5d ago

    How Gut Health Controls Your Cravings, Brain, and Longevity

    Most of us treat our bodies like we're stuck with whatever health hand we were dealt, settling for low energy, bad sleep, and slow weight gain. True health transformation isn't about grinding through another fad diet or forcing yourself to live on sheer willpower. Real, lasting vitality starts when you fix metabolic dysfunction, reset your gut microbiome, and unlock your brain’s neuroplasticity. When you shift what goes into your system, your cravings change, your focus sharpens, and your body learns to heal itself. From reversing chronic conditions to exploring cutting-edge regenerative cell therapies, this conversation breaks down how to stop settling for unworkable health and take back control of your biology. KEY TAKEAWAYS Address Root Causes First: Chronic symptoms like joint pain, brain fog, and weight gain stem from metabolic and gut imbalances, not just aging. Cravings Are Environmental: The gut microbiome directly influences brain signals, meaning sugar or alcohol cravings can be systematically reset. Fat Loss Is Dietary: Exercise isn't mandatory for initial weight loss; structured, complete nutrition drives metabolic realignment. Fuel Drives Focus: Improving metabolic health boosts neuroplasticity and new brain cell growth, sharpening decision-making. Regenerative Options Exist: Emerging treatments like targeted cell therapy and non-surgical stem cell work offer new alternatives for severe illnesses and joint repair. QUOTES "You have a body, you are not your body." "It'll be a way more interesting way to go than heart disease or type two diabetes. That's so beige." "Every time you put something in your mouth, who you're feeding first are those microbes in your gut." "Losing the weight is the easy part. You just do what we say." "When someone [is] in that nutritional approach... their brain becomes very malleable." Dean Kilby Links https://www.instagram.com/kilbydean/https://www.simplrhealth.com.au/https://www.linkedin.com/in/deankilby/ WILL STEEL LINKS 🔥 Connect with Will Steel – Business Coach & High Performance Transformation Expert If you're ready to level up your mindset, scale your business, and unlock peak performance, check out Will Steel’s coaching and content below: 🌐 Official Website https://willsteel.com/ 📸 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/willsteelcoaching/ 📘 Facebook https://www.facebook.com/willsteelcoaching/ 💼 LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-steel-business-coach-high-performance-transform

  2. Aug 28

    Scaling a Multi-Million Dollar Portfolio in Under 5 Year

    When a sudden tech layoff threatened her family's security, Emma Powell turned a terrifying moment into a multi-million dollar real estate empire. Going from a part-time photographer homeschooling six kids to retiring her husband in just five years, Emma reveals how she built a massive portfolio through strategic leverage and capital raising. We dive deep into the real math of passive income, shifting from equity to cash flow, and overcoming a scarcity mindset. If you've ever felt trapped by a single income or wondered how to break out of the middle-class paycheck cycle, this candid breakdown of private debt, mindset shifts, and full-time family travel will change how you look at building wealth. KEY TAKEAWAYS Strategic leverage can scale a portfolio drastically faster than waiting to pay 100% cash. High net worth and equity mean nothing for daily living without consistent cash flow. Specialising in capital raising allows you to partner with expert operators rather than manage properties yourself. Financial freedom doesn't eliminate problems; it upgrades them to challenges money can solve. Internal mindset work is mandatory, as external wealth alone will not cure financial anxiety QUOTES "I am never going to let this happen to us again." "These strangers do not deserve cheap photography like my children deserve me to not be editing photos..." "I've got a multi-million dollar net worth and we can't quit our jobs..." "It's like upgrading your problems." " Until you fix what's going on inside, what you have on the outside will never fix what's going on inside." Emma Powell Links https://www.youtube.com/@emmapowell28 investwithemma.com linkedin.com/in/emmapowell28 facebook.com/emmapowell28instagram.com/passiveincomeadventureshighrise.group youtube.com/@passiveincomeadventures?sub_confirmation=1 WILL STEEL LINKS  🔥 Connect with Will Steel – Business Coach & High Performance Transformation Expert If you're ready to level up your mindset, scale your business, and unlock peak performance, check out Will Steel’s coaching and content below: 🌐 Official Website https://willsteel.com/ 📸 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/willsteelcoaching/ 📘 Facebook https://www.facebook.com/willsteelcoaching/ 💼 LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-steel-business-coach-high-performance-transform

  3. Aug 24

    From Soccer Pitch to Real Estate Success: Dr Jacopo Iasiello

    When a devastating injury crushed a childhood dream of playing professional soccer at 17, for Dr Jacopo Iasiello giving up wasn't an option. Instead, it sparked a complete reinvention leading from the streets of Naples to building a global real estate empire across Miami, Italy, and Dubai. Packed with raw lessons on losing €1 million, mastering over 350 property flips, and turning market crashes into massive opportunities, this conversation breaks down the practical blueprint for creating true wealth and freedom. It’s not just about money—it's about aligning health, happiness, and financial abundance to build a business that serves your life. KEY TAKEAWAYS Control Is Everything: Never invest money into opportunities where you lack direct control over the outcome. The 4 Pillars: Scale any venture using research, growth, action, and contribution. Avoid Real Estate Pitfalls: Profit is made at the buy, but project success relies on matching renovation quality directly to the target client. Three Paths to Wealth: Segment property investments across quick-turn flips, cash-flowing multifamily units, and high-upside land variations. Inner Power First: True external abundance only lasts when backed by a focused mind and health-first lifestyle. QUOTES "Never, never, never, never, never invest in something where you don't have control." "When you play soccer you are focused on soccer... I need to completely reinvent myself, understand where I need to go." "Real estate give you the freedom to create your team based in the most important part." "One book possible change lives and one book changed my vision, my life, everything." "First of all we need to create our inner power and after go through the external abundance." Dr Jacopo Iasiello Links https://www.jacopoiasiello.com/ https://www.instagram.com/jacopoiasiello/?hl=en-gb https://healthyrichandhappy.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacopo-iasiello-50936244/ WILL STEEL LINKS  🔥 Connect with Will Steel – Business Coach & High Performance Transformation Expert If you're ready to level up your mindset, scale your business, and unlock peak performance, check out Will Steel’s coaching and content below: 🌐 Official Website https://willsteel.com/ 📸 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/willsteelcoaching/ 📘 Facebook https://www.facebook.com/willsteelcoaching/ 💼 LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-steel-business-coach-high-performance-transform

  4. Aug 17

    Billy Schwer World Champion Mindset: From Boxing Glory to Total Breakdown

    Ever wonder what happens when the applause stops and the fight of your life begins outside the ring? Former World Boxing Champion Billy Schwer opens up about the brutal reality of elite performance, the high cost of overtraining, and the devastating crash that followed his retirement from sport. Winning titles took extreme aggression and relentless drive—traits that built a champion but ultimately shattered a marriage and led to bankruptcy. Rebuilding from rock bottom meant unlearning those very traits, mastering self-leadership, and discovering how to truly thrive. Today, those hard-earned lessons power a unique approach to coaching entrepreneurs and leaders, helping them transform their energy from a survival-mode 3/10 to a fulfilled 10/10. Packed with raw honesty and practical wisdom on energy management, health values, and the power of saying no, this conversation will challenge how you define real success. KEY TAKEAWAYS Self-Leadership Comes First: True performance starts with prioritising personal well-being, health, and mental alignment before leading others. The Power of "No": Pushing through when burnt out or overtrained isn't grit; real integrity means knowing when to pull back. Unlearning Destructive Habits: Traits required to win in hyper-competitive arenas can prove destructive in personal relationships and daily life if left unchecked. Separating Action from Identity: Who you are is distinct from how you operate; stepping away from a career requires redefining self-worth beyond past titles. Lifting the Performance Ceiling: Transforming the personal state of a business owner directly lifts the ceiling on what the entire business can achieve. QUOTES "You don't play boxing. The intention is very different. It is kill or be killed." "To succeed in life you got to take care of yourself first and foremost." "I had the tools that made me a champion in the ring, but those traits didn't work in my marriage." "I know what it feels like to be on top of the world and then on the canvas with nothing." "Transform the business owner, you transform the business. They are the lid on what's possible." Billy Schwer Links https://www.instagram.com/billy.schwer/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/billy-schwer/ https://billyschwer.com/ WILL STEEL LINKS  🔥 Connect with Will Steel – Business Coach & High Performance Transformation Expert If you're ready to level up your mindset, scale your business, and unlock peak performance, check out Will Steel’s coaching and content below: 🌐 Official Website https://willsteel.com/ 📸 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/willsteelcoaching/ 📘 Facebook https://www.facebook.com/willsteelcoaching/ 💼 LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-steel-business-coach-high-performance-transform

  5. Aug 10

    20 Years of PR: What It Really Takes to Build a Legacy With Lilian Raji

    Lepping out of corporate stability into running your own business sounds heroic until you’re staring down the barrel of rent day with no safety net. Entrepreneurship isn’t all glossy wins and milestone posts; it’s a grueling test of grit, self-awareness, and relentless perseverance. Lilian Raji peels back the curtain on two decades of building a top-tier luxury PR agency, securing over $100M in startup funding, and navigating the mental battles of leadership. From the unexpected push that sparked a 20-year journey to discovering how meditation and raw introspection turn fear into fuel, this is an honest unpack on what it actually takes to survive—and thrive—in business. Expect practical wisdom on reframing setbacks, honoring personal legacy, and staying fiercely true to your standards even when the rest of the world tells you to tone it down. KEY TAKEAWAYS Fear Isn't the Enemy: Courage isn't missing fear; It's staring at the uncertainty and taking action anyway because the mission matters more. Roadblocks Are Re-Calculations: Business obstacles aren't signs to quit; they're data points highlighting internal or strategic gaps to fix. Decouple Ego from Results: True commitment to a client means focusing entirely on delivering exceptional outcomes rather than chasing applause. Practice Objective Introspection: Stepping back as an impartial observer allows you to analyze choices dispassionately and learn from failure faster. Trust Your Internal Compass: Distinguishing quiet intuition from external noise and ego is the ultimate superpower for long-term survival. QUOTE "Courage is not the absence of fear. It's looking at that fear and doing it anyway." "If I can tell you all the horrible things I've been through and it scares you away, you were not made for this." "Roadblocks aren't there to make us fail. There's something that we need to understand." "My place in this world is to be the very best at what I do, to take extraordinary pride in my work." "It's about finding what they call the permanent witness and being able to objectively look at my actions and decisions." Lilian Raji Links https://www.linkedin.com/in/lilianrajipr/ https://www.instagram.com/lilianraji/ https://www.lmrpr.com/ WILL STEEL LINKS  🔥 Connect with Will Steel – Business Coach & High Performance Transformation Expert If you're ready to level up your mindset, scale your business, and unlock peak performance, check out Will Steel’s coaching and content below: 🌐 Official Website https://willsteel.com/ 📸 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/willsteelcoaching/ 📘 Facebook https://www.facebook.com/willsteelcoaching/ 💼 LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-steel-business-coach-high-performance-transform

  6. Aug 3

    Beyond Organic Posts: The Proven LinkedIn Strategy for Business Growth With Colin Hirdman

    Ditching organic post algorithms for targeted connection strategies might sound counterintuitive, but it completely transforms how you find ideal clients on LinkedIn. Colin Hirdman drops by to break down his exact playbook for building high-converting networks through authentic outreach, educational content, and strategic automation. From leveraging competitor events to using thought-leader proxies, learn how to turn LinkedIn into a predictable revenue driver without relying on endless posting. We also dive into his personal journey as a serial entrepreneur, the balance of scaling service-based businesses, and why supporting small business owners is the key to thriving communities. KEY TAKEAWAYS Focus on 1st-degree connections: Building a targeted network of 1st-degree connections unlocks LinkedIn features that foster deep, long-term relationships far better than an email list. Adopt an educational mindset: Spammy sales pitches fall flat; prospects respond to authentic communication that addresses their actual pain points. Leverage events for lead generation: Attending competitor or industry LinkedIn events helps identify prospects actively looking to solve specific problems. Use thought leaders as proxies: Tapping into open connection lists of key industry influencers provides a pre-vetted pool of ideal prospect profiles. Maintain healthy network hygiene: Removing pending connection requests older than 30 days helps keep accounts optimised and running smoothly. QUOTES "You have to be authentic and genuine on LinkedIn... coming in with an educational mindset and figuring out what it is your audience can learn from you." "I would much rather have a 1st-degree connection over someone's email." "We are not using a connection message most of the time. If someone doesn't connect within 30 days, then we withdraw the invite." "You need to position yourself as a thought leader... that is your job, that's your role, and that's how you can really leverage LinkedIn." "Entrepreneurs and small business owners are the lifeblood of our local communities. Supporting them means sustainability within those communities." COLIN HIRDMAN LINKS https://www.linkedin.com/in/colinhirdman/ https://www.monkeyislandventures.com/ https://www.rainmakergrows.com/ WILL STEEL LINKS  🔥 Connect with Will Steel – Business Coach & High Performance Transformation Expert If you're ready to level up your mindset, scale your business, and unlock peak performance, check out Will Steel’s coaching and content below: 🌐 Official Website https://willsteel.com/ 📸 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/willsteelcoaching/ 📘 Facebook https://www.facebook.com/willsteelcoaching/ 💼 LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-steel-business-coach-high-performance-transform

  7. Jul 27

    How to Hire 10x Faster Using AI Automation

    Finding top-tier talent usually feels like an expensive, time-consuming nightmare, but smart automation changes everything. Danika Chilibeck breaks down how she went from feeling completely overwhelmed by recruitment to building an AI platform that books candidate interviews ten times faster. She shares her exact framework for stitching together off-the-shelf tools to build a minimum viable product without writing a single line of code, alongside the massive mindset shift required when moving from corporate giant Shopify to running a lean startup. Plus, get practical advice on avoiding common founder mistakes, setting up tight feedback loops, and why ditching generic AI copy is the real secret to standing out on LinkedIn. KEY TAKEAWAYS Automate pain points without code: Connect existing, off-the-shelf tools using workflow automation platforms to validate solutions quickly before spending heavily on custom software. Prioritise momentum over perfection: Transitioning from corporate roles to startups requires trading 99% accuracy for 70% solutions that keep business moving forward. Establish continuous feedback loops: Speak to customers constantly throughout product development to avoid building features nobody actually wants. Protect against key-person risk: Overcommunicate with top performers early and often to prevent unexpected departures that derail small teams. Keep social content authentic: Ditch generic AI text generators on LinkedIn; genuine, human posts with personal photos or unscripted video drive far higher engagement. QUOTES "I asked myself, 'What's the one thing I really dislike doing the most?' And that's talent sourcing. So I stitched a few tools together to find a way to automate this process." "If you try to hit that perfection, you just get nothing done. You need to be okay with the 70% solution and finding that right balance." "The overall theme for me, in terms of my failures, has just been putting more time aside to have those feedback loops for anyone on your team." "People who create very genuine and authentic content always perform better than the very well-structured, almost scripted posts." "I refuse to use AI tools for my LinkedIn posting. I definitely want to keep it authentic and genuine and it always comes from me." Danika Chilibeck Links https://www.linkedin.com/in/dchilibeck/ https://www.hirecaddie.ai/ WILL STEEL LINKS 🔥 Connect with Will Steel – Business Coach & High Performance Transformation Expert If you're ready to level up your mindset, scale your business, and unlock peak performance, check out Will Steel’s coaching and content below: 🌐 Official Website https://willsteel.com/ 📸 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/willsteelcoaching/ 📘 Facebook https://www.facebook.com/willsteelcoaching/ 💼 LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-steel-business-coach-high-performance-transform

  8. Jul 20

    The 80% Rule: Letting Go of Control to Empower Your Team Austin Davis

    What if the biggest bottleneck in your business isn’t your marketing, your finance, or your team—but a promise you made to yourself when you were ten years old? Austin Davis, founder of Clearfork Academy, built a phenomenal mental health and addiction treatment enterprise for teenagers from the ground up, scaling from just eight beds to over eighty. But behind the incredible growth lies a classic founder’s trap: the absolute compulsion to do every single task yourself. In this incredibly raw and reflective coaching session, we trace that need for extreme self-reliance back to a pivotal childhood moment on a wooden porch swing. We dive into why letting go of perfectionism is the only way to truly scale, how to embrace the 80% rule of delegation, and the practical steps you can take today to stop abdicating and start empowering. KEY TAKEAWAYS The Adult Rehab Revelation: Treating adult patients often reveals that the root trauma occurred during their teenage years, highlighting the urgent need for early-intervention care. The Founder's Paradox: Balances are hard to strike when a leader is caught between a clinical desire for perfection and an entrepreneurial drive to scale. The 80% Victory: Scaling requires accepting that if a team member can complete a task 80% as well as you, it is a massive win for the business. Tracing the Handbrake: Subconscious, self-protective rules formed in childhood often manifest as operational bottlenecks in adult leadership. Active Interruption: Breaking the habit of micromanagement requires actively noticing the urge to take over, pausing, and intentionally redirecting the task. QUOTES "All of these grown men are processing childhood wounds 20, 30 years later with me." "We literally jumped out of the plane without a parachute... we just kind of knew that's what we were supposed to do." "If I need something or want something, I got to go do it myself... this internal self-reliance, for sure." "If they can do it 80% as good as you, that's a win." "Probably half of my to-do list right now could be assigned to other people." Austin Davis Links https://clearforkacademy.com/about-us/our-team/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/austindaledavis/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCW9obDBg7ElpdXichEyOS9Q https://www.instagram.com/clearforkacademy/ WILL STEEL LINKS 🔥 Connect with Will Steel – Business Coach & High Performance Transformation Expert If you're ready to level up your mindset, scale your business, and unlock peak performance, check out Will Steel’s coaching and content below: 🌐 Official Website https://willsteel.com/ 📸 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/willsteelcoaching/ 📘 Facebook https://www.facebook.com/willsteelcoaching/ 💼 LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-steel-business-coach-high-performance-transform

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About

Free to Lead is dedicated to showcasing not just the journeys of business owners and executives from various industries who are making significant impacts in their fields, but also some of what each of them dealt with along the way, and what they are dealing with now. Hosted by Will Steel, one of the world’s most highly regarded transformational leaders, the podcast delves into the stories of visionary business owners and leaders who are not only driven by their passion but also inspired by their purpose.

Information

  • Creator
    Will Steel
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    24
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Will Steel