The Leadership Multiverse

Ellen Daniels & Andrew Chamberlain

The Leadership Multiverse dives deep into the galaxies of sci-fi, superhero, and fantasy cinema and television to explore what it really means to lead. In each episode, we dissect the decisions, styles, and values of iconic characters like Tony Stark, Princess Leia, Ned Stark, Captain Kirk, and beyond, unpacking their triumphs, tribulations and everything in between. Whether you’re a leadership aficionado, a pop culture junkie, or just wondering if Darth Vader could delegate effectively, this is the podcast where fandom meets the front lines of leadership.

  1. 5d ago ·  Video

    WALL-E: Unconventional Leaders and the Dangers of Autopilot with Lucy Smith

    Send us Fan Mail This week on The Leadership Multiverse, Ellen is joined by Lucy Smith, founder of Inclusive Change, co-founder of Decidr and host of podcast It's Probably Fine, to explore the profound leadership lessons hiding in Pixar's WALL-E. You heard it here first. Ellen admitted to huge sceptism about finding any leadership lessons in the film about the trash-collecting robot, but Lucy and Ellen dive into some insightful leadership questions, like whether WALL-E is actually a leader, despite having no authority or what we see as "traditional" leadership qualities, and could the film serve as a timely warning about delegating too much of our decision-making to AI? Their analysis goes beyond WALL-E's own leadership style as they look further afield at EVE and her purpose, the Captain's transformation into a leader, emerging leaders in an era of technological change, and what happens when AI continues following instructions long after the original purpose has changed? Spoiler warning: We discuss major plot points from WALL-E. Find out more about Lucy: Inclusive Change: https://inclusivechange.co.uk Decidr: https://decidr.live Podcast: It's Probably Fine- https://inclusivechange.co.uk/probably-fine-podcast-page  Support the show Follow The Leadership Multiverse: Website: www.leadershipmultiverse.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LeadershipMultiverse Newsletter: https://leadershipmultiverse.substack.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-leadership-multiverse  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadershipmultiverse/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@leadershipmultive?lang=en Connect with Ellen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellen-daniels-3b831279

    WALL-E: Unconventional Leaders and the Dangers of Autopilot with Lucy Smith

  2. Oct 14 ·  Video

    When Winning Isn’t Enough: High-Performing Teams in Science Fiction with Petra Velzeboer

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Leadership Multiverse, Ellen is joined by Petra Velzeboer- author, speaker and mental health consultant, for a conversation about high-performing teams, trust, culture and what science fiction and pop culture can teach us about how people work together. From the Avengers and Star Trek to Lord of the Rings, Wonder Woman, Captain Pike and even venturing outside of science fiction to the fantastic Ted Lasso, Ellen and Petra explore what really makes a team effective. Is success just about winning the mission, or does it also depend on how people recover, debrief, challenge each other and keep going afterwards? They discuss psychological safety, groupthink, charismatic leaders, the danger of over-relying on one exceptional person, and the often-undervalued “glue” role: the person who helps hold a team together, connects different personalities, and makes collaboration possible. Along the way, they ask why fictional teams make it easier to talk about real workplace issues, from ego and conflict to trust, dissent, burnout, belonging, and how it's possible for unhealthy teams like the Avengers to actually be successful in saving the world, more than once! A great conversation about superheroes, starships, culture, death, curiosity, and why sometimes the quietest person in the room might be the one holding the whole team together. Find out more about Petra Velzeboer: Website: https://www.petravelzeboer.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/petra-velzeboer/  Support the show Follow The Leadership Multiverse: Website: www.leadershipmultiverse.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LeadershipMultiverse Newsletter: https://leadershipmultiverse.substack.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-leadership-multiverse  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadershipmultiverse/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@leadershipmultive?lang=en Connect with Ellen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellen-daniels-3b831279

    When Winning Isn’t Enough: High-Performing Teams in Science Fiction with Petra Velzeboer

  3. Sep 30 ·  Video

    Farscape: Rygel, Crichton and Leading a Crew of Misfits with Peter Davidson

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Ellen is joined by Peter Davidson, Chief Executive of the Tank Storage Association, to explore leadership through the excellent cult 90s television show Farscape. Originally meant to focus on Rygel- former ruler, reluctant team member, survivor, schemer, and perhaps one of sci-fi’s most unlikely leadership case studies, Ellen and Peter end up looking at the many different leadership styles across the series. They discuss flawed leaders, unlikely teams, the dangers of ego, and why leadership is sometimes about understanding people’s strengths, earning trust, and how an unlikely crew, where the human is the odd one out, manage to succeed as a functioning team. From Crichton’s creative problem-solving and outsider perspective to the rigid command structures of the Peacekeepers, the steady and constant presence of Pilot, and the threats that force the crew of the sentient ship, Moya, to adapt, they explore what Farscape can teach us about power, trust, survival, and leading when there isn't one true captain of the ship. Support the show Follow The Leadership Multiverse: Website: www.leadershipmultiverse.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LeadershipMultiverse Newsletter: https://leadershipmultiverse.substack.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-leadership-multiverse  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadershipmultiverse/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@leadershipmultive?lang=en Connect with Ellen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellen-daniels-3b831279

    Farscape: Rygel, Crichton and Leading a Crew of Misfits with Peter Davidson

  4. Sep 16

    Tifa Lockhart- Final Fantasy with Becca Allan

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Ellen is joined by author, streamer and her co-host on Beam Me Up, Gandalf!, Becca Allan, to explore a fictional universe that has been part of Becca’s life since childhood: Final Fantasy. They talk about the characters who shaped Becca’s love of the series and influenced her creatively, including Tifa Lockhart, before diving into the different types of leadership across the games. From Tifa and Cloud to the even some supporting characters, they explore leadership, teamwork, responsibility and resilience in the face of identity crises. They also look at what makes video games unique from a leadership perspective: unlike a film or TV series, you don’t just watch characters make decisions, you live them, make choices, build teams and experience situations through characters with their own personalities, strengths and leadership styles. Support the show Follow The Leadership Multiverse: Website: www.leadershipmultiverse.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LeadershipMultiverse Newsletter: https://leadershipmultiverse.substack.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-leadership-multiverse  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadershipmultiverse/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@leadershipmultive?lang=en Connect with Ellen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellen-daniels-3b831279

    Tifa Lockhart- Final Fantasy with Becca Allan

  5. Jun 16

    Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

    Send us Fan Mail This week Andrew and Ellen swing into the Spider-Verse to examine Peter Parker, Miles Morales, Gwen Stacy and Spider-Man Noir: heroes, emerging leaders, reluctant mentors, and different versions of what responsibility can become. They explore whether Spider-Man is really a leader at all, asking when responsibility becomes over-functioning, when sacrifice becomes martyrdom, and what happens when talented young people are used but not properly nurtured. Along the way, they discuss mentoring, reverse mentoring, burnout, succession planning, kindness, cynicism, emotional honesty, and why “with great power comes great responsibility” is not much help if nobody teaches you how to carry it. A layered, multiversal and surprisingly human leadership case study. Support the show Follow The Leadership Multiverse: Website: www.leadershipmultiverse.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LeadershipMultiverse Newsletter: https://leadershipmultiverse.substack.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-leadership-multiverse  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadershipmultiverse/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@leadershipmultive?lang=en Connect with Ellen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellen-daniels-3b831279

    Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

  6. Jun 9

    Sarah Connor

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Leadership Multiverse, Ellen is joined by keynote speaker, former military officer, intelligence specialist and business leader Stuart Barker to explore the leadership lessons of one of science fiction’s most unlikely heroes: Sarah Connor. From waitress to warrior, protector to mentor, Sarah Connor’s journey across the Terminator franchise is a masterclass in leadership under pressure. She has no title, no formal authority and no special powers. Yet she becomes a leader capable of influencing others, preparing for an uncertain future and making difficult decisions in the face of overwhelming adversity. If leadership is ultimately about influence, courage and preparing others for a future you may never see yourself, Sarah Connor might be one of science fiction’s most compelling leadership case studies. Listen now for a fascinating discussion about crisis leadership, resilience and the power of purpose. Support the show Follow The Leadership Multiverse: Website: www.leadershipmultiverse.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LeadershipMultiverse Newsletter: https://leadershipmultiverse.substack.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-leadership-multiverse  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadershipmultiverse/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@leadershipmultive?lang=en Connect with Ellen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellen-daniels-3b831279

    Sarah Connor

  7. Jun 2

    Katniss Everdeen

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Leadership Multiverse, Ellen is joined by special guest, Elisa Pratt to explore the leadership lessons of Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games. Katniss is not a conventional leader. She doesn't seek power, status or a platform. She steps forward to protect her sister and becomes, almost against her will, a symbol of resistance, hope and disruption. That makes her a fascinating study in reluctant leadership, authenticity, personal brand and the uncomfortable politics of being turned into a figurehead. Ellen and Elisa discuss Katniss as an imperfect but powerful leader: reactive, principled, emotionally driven, sometimes strategic, often resistant to being managed, and deeply shaped by the world around her. They consider what her story reveals about symbolic leadership, volunteer leadership, board dynamics, political performance, influence, empathy, rebellion and the limits of charisma. Along the way, they ask whether Katniss belongs more naturally in Star Wars, Star Trek or the Avengers, whether she deserves more credit as a transformational leader, and why the messiest leaders are often the most interesting. A thoughtful, lively conversation about the Mockingjay, leadership under pressure, and what happens when the person everyone follows never really wanted to lead. Support the show Follow The Leadership Multiverse: Website: www.leadershipmultiverse.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LeadershipMultiverse Newsletter: https://leadershipmultiverse.substack.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-leadership-multiverse  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadershipmultiverse/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@leadershipmultive?lang=en Connect with Ellen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellen-daniels-3b831279

    Katniss Everdeen

  8. May 26

    Daenerys Targaryen: The Mother of Dragons

    Send us Fan Mail This week Andrew and Ellen enter Westeros to examine Daenerys Targaryen: liberator, revolutionary, symbol-maker, and ultimately a deeply dangerous leader. They explore her journey from vulnerable exile to Mother of Dragons, asking when moral clarity becomes absolutism, when vision turns into destiny, and why charisma without accountability can become catastrophic. Along the way, they discuss trauma, founder syndrome, symbolic leadership, emotional volatility, weak systems, poor succession, and why “breaking the wheel” is not much use if you replace it with fire. A fascinating, conflicted and occasionally scorching leadership case study. Literally. Support the show Follow The Leadership Multiverse: Website: www.leadershipmultiverse.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LeadershipMultiverse Newsletter: https://leadershipmultiverse.substack.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-leadership-multiverse  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadershipmultiverse/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@leadershipmultive?lang=en Connect with Ellen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellen-daniels-3b831279

    Daenerys Targaryen: The Mother of Dragons
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About

The Leadership Multiverse dives deep into the galaxies of sci-fi, superhero, and fantasy cinema and television to explore what it really means to lead. In each episode, we dissect the decisions, styles, and values of iconic characters like Tony Stark, Princess Leia, Ned Stark, Captain Kirk, and beyond, unpacking their triumphs, tribulations and everything in between. Whether you’re a leadership aficionado, a pop culture junkie, or just wondering if Darth Vader could delegate effectively, this is the podcast where fandom meets the front lines of leadership.

Information

  • Creator
    Ellen Daniels & Andrew Chamberlain
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    27
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Leadership Multiverse
  • Show Website
    The Leadership Multiverse