I Have Some Questions...

Erik Berglund
  • 5.0 (39)
  • MANAGEMENT

Most people know the headline of a leader’s story. Few know the path it took to get there. This podcast goes beyond titles, book launches and business wins, to explore the lived journey behind the thought leader. Through deep, unhurried conversations, we uncover the moments that shaped them—the doubts, pivots, convictions, and quiet breakthroughs that built their body of work. Each episode features authors, coaches, executives, and bold thinkers who have forged their own path. Instead of rehearsed talking points, they’re invited into a space where thoughtful questions unlock something more human. The result is a layered conversation that reveals not just what they preach, but how they became the kind of person who can teach it.Because we believe the best stories aren’t always told—they’re revealed. And when brilliant people are given the right questions and the room to answer them fully, what emerges is insight you can feel, frameworks you can apply, and a deeper understanding of what it truly takes to lead, create, and contribute at a meaningful level. 

  1. 127: "Psychological Safety is Making Disagreement Safe" ft. Alli Murphy

    1D AGO

    127: "Psychological Safety is Making Disagreement Safe" ft. Alli Murphy

    In this conversation with co-host Alli Murphy, Erik unpacks one of the most misunderstood (and most powerful) leadership dynamics in modern workplaces: psychological safety. From Google’s Project Aristotle to real-life stories of $50,000 mistakes, psilocybin revelations, and the subtle power of tone and body language, this episode explores what it actually looks like to create an environment where people feel safe enough to disagree—and strong enough to own their mistakes. 🧭 Conversation Highlights Project Aristotle & the Case for Psychological Safety Google’s research revealed psychological safety as the #1 predictor of high-performing teams—yet most leaders don’t know how to create it intentionally.Three Tactical Ways to Build Psychological Safety Alli outlines practical moves: know your people as humans, own your mistakes publicly, and directly invite disagreement in meetings.The Power of “Who Disagrees?” Creating a pathway for dissent doesn’t weaken authority—it strengthens team performance.From the IC Perspective: Speaking Up When You’re Intimidated Alli reflects on early-career intimidation and how a simple preamble (“I might be missing something…”) can unlock contribution.Excuses as Leadership Curveballs Erik shares his “Big 4 Excuses” framework and why leaders get emotionally hooked instead of strategically redirecting.Empathy: Superpower or Sabotage? A powerful exploration of how excessive empathy—especially among female leaders—can undermine accountability if not paired with clarity.Leadership = Influence Toward Advantage Not charisma. Not position. Influence. And influence requires practice.💡 Key Takeaways Psychological safety is not about being agreeable—it’s about making disagreement safe.Leaders must explicitly invite dissent if they expect to hear it.Owning mistakes models maturity and lowers the cost of honesty.Excuses are predictable—and therefore manageable—if you know what to listen for.Empathy must be paired with accountability to avoid being weaponized.High-stakes conversations should be practiced, not improvised.Leadership isn’t knowledge—it’s a rehearsed skill.❓ Questions That Mattered What am I missing here?Who disagrees with this idea?What might I be blind to because of my lens?What’s the best way for me to disagree with you?How are you going to handle that moving forward?If this isn’t your fault, how is it still your responsibility?🗣️ Notable Quotes “A lot of things happen that aren’t our fault—but are still our responsibility.” “Leadership is influence toward advantage.” “If you’re invited to the table and you sit there silently, you missed the test.” “Knowledge doesn’t solve leadership problems. Skill does.” “Empathy without accountability gets taken advantage of.” 🔗 Links & Resources Listen to other episodes co-hosted with Alli

    20 min

  2. 4D AGO

    126: "Do Catalytic Moments Really Exist?" (lessons from Jake Stahl)

    🧠 Erik's Take This conversation with Jake Stahl wasn’t just about communication. It was about redemption. Jake shared the origin story behind Own the Room, and it didn’t begin in a boardroom—it began in addiction. After knee surgery led to opioid dependency, his life unraveled: divorce, financial fallout, a damaged reputation. And in the middle of that collapse came a catalytic moment—staring at a prescription refill he could take… or refuse. He realized something profound: he was more willing to endure the pain of withdrawal than the pain of continuing the life he was building. That decision didn’t just change his health. It became the foundation for rebuilding his credibility, his relationships, and ultimately his business. The book isn’t about addiction. But the skillset inside it—the ability to read a room, send better signals, and regain respect—was forged in that fire.   🎯 Top Insights from the Interview Catalytic Moments Exist—If You Recognize Them There are rare moments when everything becomes clear. If you lean into them, they can redirect your entire trajectory.Thin Slicing Is Real People form impressions in seconds. Research shows 10 seconds of silent observation can shape the same opinion as a full semester of exposure.You Are Not Trapped by First Impressions Redemption isn’t dramatic. It’s behavioral. Stop sending the wrong signal. Replace it with a better one. Repeat.Signals Matter More Than You Think A simple compliment about glasses shifted the energy of a conversation instantly. Awareness allowed recovery.Entrepreneurship Requires Ego Death The hardest part of building something isn’t creating it—it’s admitting when it’s not right. 🧩 The Personal Layer Erik didn’t just reflect on Jake’s redemption. He connected it to his own. He shared the uncomfortable reality of realizing that The Language of Leadership—while impactful—was being delivered in a way that wasn’t working. People were paying… but not consuming. It took: Three months of internal wrestlingNearly $100,000 in ad spendAnd a hard look in the mirrorTo admit the offer needed to change. That’s the part founders don’t talk about enough. We build “golden idols” out of our products. We fall in love with our solutions. And sometimes the very thing we’re most proud of becomes the obstacle to growth. Humility isn’t optional. It’s operational. 🧰 From Insight to Action If this episode hits you, here’s where to apply it: Identify Your Catalytic Moments What decision are you postponing that you already know the answer to?Audit Your Signals What might people be thin-slicing about you in the first 10 seconds?Replace, Don’t Ruminate If you sent the wrong signal, don’t spiral. Stop. Adjust. Repeat better behavior.Kill the Golden Idol What part of your business, leadership style, or identity are you defending that might need to evolve?Redeem Through Consistency Redemption isn’t one speech. It’s repeated behavior over time.🗣️ Notable Quotes “I realized I was more willing to endure the pain of getting off than the pain of the life I was creating.” “You are not trapped by the first impression someone forms of you.” “The solution to a bad signal is simple: stop sending it.” “Sometimes the thing you’re most proud of is the thing holding you back.” 🔗 Links & Resources Listen to Jake Stahl's Episode

    14 min
  3. 125: "Can You Win a Deal Before the Close?" ft. Jake Stahl

    6D AGO

    125: "Can You Win a Deal Before the Close?" ft. Jake Stahl

    Jake Stahl returns to the show with a powerful message: winning deals isn’t about talking more—it’s about reading the room better. This conversation goes beyond sales tactics. It’s about emotional intelligence, pattern recognition, and learning to adapt in real time. Erik and Jake explore how subtle cues—tone, hesitation, posture, language—signal opportunity or resistance long before a deal is won or lost. If you’ve ever walked out of a meeting thinking, “I felt like something was off…”—this episode is for you. 👤 About the Guest Jake Stahl is the author of Own Your Room, a practical guide to winning deals by reading signals and adapting to the moment. He’s also the CEO and co-founder of Orchestraight, a business development platform that helps professionals understand what prospects care about—so they can tailor their messaging accordingly. With 30+ years of experience and more than 10,000 professionals trained, Jake has distilled his work into a proprietary methodology called NeuroStrategy, blending: Behavioral PsychologySocial PsychologyNeuro-Linguistic ProgrammingHe’s now leveraging AI through Orchestrate AI to reinforce these proven communication principles at scale.  🧭 Conversation Highlights Reading the Room Is a Skill, Not a Talent. Most professionals rely on instinct. Jake explains how to intentionally decode micro-signals and adjust mid-conversation.Winning Happens Before the Close. Deals are often decided early—based on alignment, trust signals, and perceived understanding.Customization Beats Persuasion. It’s not about convincing someone—it’s about demonstrating you understand what they’re already trying to solve.NeuroStrategy in Action. Jake breaks down how psychological patterns shape decision-making—and how to ethically align your message with them.AI as an Amplifier, Not a Replacement. Orchestrate AI isn’t about automating sales—it’s about enhancing preparation so professionals walk in sharper and more relevant.💡 Key Takeaways You’re always sending and receiving signals—whether you realize it or not.The best communicators adapt in real time instead of rigidly sticking to a script.Preparation is less about perfect slides and more about understanding mindset.AI becomes powerful when it reinforces proven psychological principles—not when it replaces human judgment.“Reading the room” is influence built on awareness, not charisma.❓ Questions That Mattered What signals are you missing in high-stakes conversations?Are you customizing your message—or recycling your pitch?How often do you pause to interpret tone, energy, and hesitation?What would change if you treated preparation as psychological research instead of content building?Are you truly listening—or waiting for your turn to talk?🗣️ Notable Quotes “You win deals that other people lose by reading the room.” “It’s not about talking more—it’s about understanding better.” “If you can identify the signals, you can navigate the moment.” 🔗 Links & Resources Own Your Room by Jake Stahl - Buy it on AmazonCheck out Orchestraight

    1h 10m
  4. 124: "Are You Climbing a Ladder You Don’t Even Want to Be On?" ft. Alli Murphy

    MAR 9

    124: "Are You Climbing a Ladder You Don’t Even Want to Be On?" ft. Alli Murphy

    When Alli Murphy’s “not-an-SVP” LinkedIn post sparked hundreds of comments and DMs, it revealed something deeper: a quiet crisis around success. In this episode, Erik and returning co-host Alli unpack the generational tension around achievement, the invisible scripts we inherit about status and ambition, and why more leaders are choosing flexibility over prestige. From corporate ladders to ski days on Tuesdays, this conversation challenges the default definitions of success—and offers a more intentional path forward. 🧭 Conversation Highlights The Viral Post That Hit a Nerve  Alli’s LinkedIn post—“I’m not an SVP. I don’t own a Rivian…”—unlocked a flood of responses from women reconsidering what success actually means.The Corporate Ladder Awakening  Erik shares his realization as a sales leader: the higher he looked up the ladder, the less he wanted the lives attached to those roles.The Generational Disconnect  Millennials are the first generation whose childhood blueprint doesn’t map to adult reality. The rules changed—and no one told us.Lifestyle as Success  If you can ski midweek, take your kid to school, or grab lunch with your spouse on a Tuesday—you might already be “there.”Redefining Leadership in the Workplace  As millennials and Gen Z reshape the workforce, flexibility, autonomy, and clarity around non-negotiables are becoming the new currency.💡 Key Takeaways Success without alignment leads to quiet resentment—even if it looks impressive on paper.Generational shifts aren’t weaknesses; they’re context.Flexibility is more than hours and salary—there are multiple levers leaders can use to attract and retain talent.You must define success for yourself—or risk chasing someone else’s version forever.Leaders who understand what motivates their people can unlock performance without sacrificing humanity.❓ Questions That Mattered What version of success did you inherit—and is it still serving you?If you stripped away titles and optics, what would “winning” look like for you?What are your non-negotiables now that weren’t before?How can organizations design roles that reflect real life—not outdated paradigms?Are you climbing a ladder you don’t even want to be on?🗣️ Notable Quotes “If you can take your wife to lunch on a Tuesday, you’ve already arrived.” “A lot of what we saw growing up doesn’t map to the world we actually live in.” “You don’t have to want what society tells you to want.” “There are more levers in work than just hours and pay.” 🔗 Links & Resources Listen to other episodes co-hosted with Alli

    17 min

  5. MAR 6

    123: "Should Your Frontline Contribution Eventually Drop to Zero?" (lessons from Staci Lynn)

    🧠 Erik’s Take Leadership isn’t an upgrade—it’s a tradeoff. In this reflection on his conversation with Staci Lynn, Erik unpacks the uncomfortable truth most new leaders eventually face: the better you get at leadership, the less important your direct contribution becomes. What once made you valuable—doing the work—slowly fades as your real job becomes unlocking the capacity, judgment, and courage of others. This episode is about the identity shift that comes with that realization—and why resisting it keeps leaders stuck. 🎯 Top Insights from the Interview Leadership maturity requires letting go of personal importanceLeaders exist to unlock people, not solve problems for themDisruption is part of the job—even when it makes you unpopularHuman relationships are leverage, not “soft skills”Language shapes outcomes more than authority ever will🧩 The Personal Layer Erik reflects on the internal friction leaders feel when they move from being liked to being responsible. The instinct to keep peers happy clashes with the reality that leadership often means withholding information, challenging assumptions, and pushing people toward growth they didn’t ask for. That tension isn’t a failure—it’s the curve every real leader must climb. 🧰 From Insight to Action Stop measuring your value by how much you personally contributePractice letting others solve problems—even imperfectlyGet comfortable making decisions people won’t likeInvest intentionally in relationships before you need themChange your language before trying to change outcomes🗣️ Notable Quotes “Your frontline contribution should eventually go to zero.”“Leadership means influencing people toward an advantage.”“You’re leading people, not machines.”“Your face tells a story even when your mouth doesn’t.”“Your people are your most valuable asset—especially when you’re exiting.”🔗 Links & Resources Listen to Staci Lynn's Episode

    11 min
  6. 122: "What If Leadership Isn’t About Being the Expert?" ft. Staci Lynn

    MAR 4

    122: "What If Leadership Isn’t About Being the Expert?" ft. Staci Lynn

    What actually makes someone a good leader once the title changes? In this wide-ranging conversation, Erik sits down with Staci Lynn—COO, fractional executive, and senior living operator—to unpack leadership lessons learned the hard way. From managing without authority to leading former peers, from burnout to humility, and from system design to human development, this episode is a masterclass in what real leadership looks like when the stakes are high and the work is human. 👤 About the Guest Staci Lynn is a Chief Operating Officer, fractional and startup COO, business consultant, and board member. She has spent her entire career in the senior living industry, holding roles across operations, sales, project management, and mergers & acquisitions. Staci is known for her ability to blend mission and margin, unlock human potential through empathetic leadership, and help organizations scale sustainably in one of the most complex industries—where hospitality and healthcare intersect. 🧭 Conversation Highlights What leadership teaches you when you don’t have authorityThe painful shift from peer to boss—and how to survive itBurnout as a turning point, not a failureWhy humility is a leadership accelerator, not a weaknessBuilding culture that shows up when things get hard💡 Key Takeaways Leadership is less about expertise and more about removing barriersYou don’t earn trust by being liked—you earn it by being clear and humanBurnout often comes from self-inflicted complexity, not the job itselfStrong cultures are built long before crisis demands themSystems matter, but people development compounds faster❓ Questions That Mattered How do you lead people you don’t manage directly?What changes when your peers become your team?How do you make hard decisions without losing trust?When should leaders solve problems with systems—and when with people?What does it take to scale empathy without losing performance?🗣️ Notable Quotes “Leadership isn’t knowing everything—it’s removing barriers.”“You don’t have to be the expert. That’s why you hired experts.”“If you don’t prioritize yourself, you’ll eventually burn out your team too.”“People are important, not things.”“If you do the right thing by your people, the bottom line takes care of itself.”🔗 Links & Resources Follow Staci Lynn on LinkedIn

    1h 22m
  7. 121: "What If What Got You here is now Burning You Out?" (ft. Alli Murphy)

    MAR 2

    121: "What If What Got You here is now Burning You Out?" (ft. Alli Murphy)

    Even high-performing leaders hit walls. In this candid, unscripted conversation, Erik and recurring co-host Alli Murphy unpack something most leaders experience—but rarely admit: the funk. Whether it’s imposter syndrome before a keynote, burnout from pushing too hard, or the quiet spiral of overthinking, this episode dives into the real mechanics of getting stuck… and getting unstuck. From Peanut M&M reward systems to “Operation Off Duty” and Alli’s morning routine with “Earl,” this conversation blends strategy, self-awareness, and permission—to help leaders recalibrate without shame. 🧭 Conversation Highlights The Short-Term Fix: Using small, intentional rewards to push through resistance when you “just don’t want to do the damn thing.”Lean Into the Funk: Sometimes discipline isn’t the answer—permission is.Action Creates Momentum: Getting out of your head by finishing the deck, making the calls, or doing the reps.Back to Basics: Why sleep, fresh air, workouts, and structure still work (even when you don’t feel like they will).Recipe vs. Season: What got you here might not get you there—and your personal operating system may need an update.💡 Key Takeaways A funk is rarely a character flaw—it’s often a signal.Rewards can jumpstart momentum when motivation is low.Avoiding action fuels anxiety; taking action dissolves it.Burnout sometimes hides inside “discipline.”Just because something worked before doesn’t mean it’s right for this season.❓ Questions That Mattered How do you get yourself to do the thing when you really don’t want to?When should you push through… and when should you lean in?Is your routine supporting you—or exhausting you?What type of rest do you actually need right now?Are you burned out… or just oxygen-deprived?🗣️ Notable Quotes “A lot of leaders are driven enough that one week of ‘nope’ might serve them better than forced discipline.” “Just because it worked once upon a time doesn’t mean it’s the right thing for this season.” “More charging isn’t always the answer.” “There are seven different types of rest—and you might need one, not all of them.” “Sometimes the way out of your head is to finish the freaking deck.” 🔗 Links & Resources Listen to other episodes co-hosted with Alli

    12 min

  8. FEB 27

    120: "Can Trust Be Digitized—and How?" (lessons from Tony Camero)

    🧠 Erik’s Take Trust isn’t abstract—it’s already being calculated all around us. The problem is that most of the systems we rely on are crude proxies: resumes, credit scores, follower counts, and credentials that signal legitimacy without actually proving reliability. In this reflection, Erik unpacks Tony Camero’s vision for TrustMesh as a platform—not a prescription—that challenges how trust, value, and currency might be redesigned in a digital-first world. At its core, this episode isn’t about blockchain or technology. It’s about whether communities can reclaim trust from gated, profit-driven systems and define it for themselves. 🎯 Top Insights from the Interview Trust already functions as a currency—money just formalizes it after the factMost modern trust signals are proxies, not proofDigitizing trust requires context, not just dataCommunities—not platforms—should define what “trustworthy” meansThe hardest unsolved problem is redemption, not verification🧩 The Personal Layer Erik reflects on how intuitively we already navigate trust in real life—excusing past failures, contextualizing behavior, and allowing people to grow. Translating that nuance into a digital system is where things get uncomfortable. A permanent ledger sounds objective, but human trust has always included forgiveness, narrative, and change over time. The tension is clear: transparency creates accountability, but without a path to redemption, it risks becoming another rigid gatekeeping system. 🧰 From Insight to Action Question the proxies you use to judge people’s reliabilityNotice where monetization distorts trust signals in your worldSeparate “credibility” from “trustworthiness” in decision-makingDesign accountability systems that allow recovery, not just scoringAsk what currency really moves value in your communities🗣️ Notable Quotes “Before currency changes hands, trust is exchanged.”“These systems don’t tell us who someone is—just how they rank.”“Trust without context is just another algorithm.”“Redemption exists in real life. The question is whether we’ll allow it digitally.”🔗 Links & Resources Listen to Tony Camero's Episode

    14 min
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5
out of 5
39 Ratings

About

Most people know the headline of a leader’s story. Few know the path it took to get there. This podcast goes beyond titles, book launches and business wins, to explore the lived journey behind the thought leader. Through deep, unhurried conversations, we uncover the moments that shaped them—the doubts, pivots, convictions, and quiet breakthroughs that built their body of work. Each episode features authors, coaches, executives, and bold thinkers who have forged their own path. Instead of rehearsed talking points, they’re invited into a space where thoughtful questions unlock something more human. The result is a layered conversation that reveals not just what they preach, but how they became the kind of person who can teach it.Because we believe the best stories aren’t always told—they’re revealed. And when brilliant people are given the right questions and the room to answer them fully, what emerges is insight you can feel, frameworks you can apply, and a deeper understanding of what it truly takes to lead, create, and contribute at a meaningful level. 

Information

  • Creator
    Erik Berglund
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    125
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 I Have Some Questions...
  • Show Website
    I Have Some Questions...