Badass Softie

Dr. J.J. Peterson
  • 5.0 (21)
  • Management
  • Updated Weekly

A Badass Softie is unapologetically ambitious and leads with heart. Ambitious and kind. Fun and driven. Powerful and deeply human. Badass Softie, hosted by Dr. J.J. Peterson, is a podcast that challenges the false choice leaders are too often given: be strong or be compassionate. The world doesn’t just need more leaders — it needs leaders bold enough to make an impact and compassionate enough to make it meaningful. Each episode pulls back the curtain on leaders, creators, and innovators who are rewriting the rules of what real leadership looks like. You’ll walk away with stories, insights, and practical takeaways that show you how to lead with both strength and softness — the very definition of being a Badass Softie. Subscribe and step fully into the kind of leader the world is waiting for. 

  1. 5d ago

    Why Customers Don't Remember Your Business

    Your company probably doesn't have a differentiation problem. It has a memory problem. Dr. J.J. Peterson kicks off a new marketing series by exploring one of the biggest misconceptions he encounters in strategy sessions. Most businesses believe they need to stand out from the competition. In reality, many simply haven't decided what they want customers to remember. Using research from psychology, a famous farmers market experiment, and examples from some of the world's most recognizable brands, J.J. explains why saying more often makes your message weaker—and why clarity is one of the most generous things you can offer your customers. What You'll Take Away Why most businesses have a clarity problem, not a differentiation problem How too many messages create confusion instead of confidence What a famous jam study reveals about customer decision-making Why memorable brands aren't always the ones with the most value A practical exercise to identify the three things you want customers to remember Whether you're leading a company, building a personal brand, growing a business, or sharing an idea that matters, this conversation will help you communicate with greater clarity so the people you're meant to serve remember you. If you're trying to figure out what your business should be known for, this is the work Dr. J.J. Peterson helps leaders and organizations do every day. Visit https://www.drjjpeterson.com/ to learn more about his messaging and marketing strategy workshops and how to build a brand customers actually remember.   Follow Badass Softie Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/badasssoftiepod Website: https://www.badasssoftie.com

  2. Jul 6

    The Leaders Who Take the Biggest Risks Aren't Fearless

    Some leaders seem willing to make impossible decisions. They change careers. Walk away from security. Speak uncomfortable truths. Bet on themselves when success is anything but certain. What if courage isn't what makes those decisions possible? Dr. J.J. Peterson explores a childhood moment that completely changed the way he understood risk, independence, and the people who quietly give us the confidence to become who we're meant to be. It's a story about fathers, belonging, and one surprising realization that shaped every bold decision that followed. What This Explores Why courage may have less to do with fearlessness than you think The hidden foundation behind life's biggest risks A surprising definition of independence How leaders create the safety that helps others grow The lasting impact of knowing someone is truly on your side If this reflection resonated with you, share it with someone who has helped you become braver simply by believing in you. We think they're a Badass Softie.   Follow Badass Softie Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/badasssoftiepod Website: https://www.badasssoftie.com

  3. Jun 29

    Why We Perform Instead of Telling the Truth

    Most people don't set out to become performers. But over time, it's easy to trade pieces of ourselves for approval, success, certainty, or the version of us we think other people want to see. Dr. J.J. Peterson sits down with author and book coach Ally Fallon for a conversation about authenticity, ambition, and the courage it takes to tell yourself the truth. Together, they explore why so many people lose touch with their own voice while chasing external validation, how performance can quietly replace authenticity, and what it means to trust yourself when the rewards aren't immediate. Ally shares lessons from a season that brought her family to the brink of bankruptcy, the unexpected insights that emerged from a 30-day Instagram experiment, and why some of the most important growth happens long before anyone else can see it. For leaders who have ever wondered whether they're building a life that feels true—or simply becoming what the world rewards—this conversation offers a different way to think about success. What This Explores • Why finding your authentic voice takes courage • The difference between your inner and outer horizon • Why we perform for approval without realizing it • Letting go of likes, views, and external validation • What failure can teach us about purpose • Why meaningful work doesn't always make immediate sense • Listening when your body tells you something is out of alignment • Leading with authenticity instead of performance If this conversation resonated with you, consider following Badass Softie and sharing it with someone who may need the reminder that success and authenticity don't have to be at odds. Mentioned in This Episode The Artist's Way: https://juliacameronlive.com/book/the-artists-way-a-spiritual-path-to-higher-creativity Ally Fallon on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allyfallon  Follow Badass Softie Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/badasssoftiepod Website: https://www.badasssoftie.com

  4. Jun 22

    What Happens When Everything Becomes Practical

    What if the moments that change someone's day are the ones we almost talk ourselves out of? The compliment we never give. The thank you we never send. The invitation we never make. The extra effort we decide isn't necessary. In this conversation, Dr. J.J. Peterson sits down with bestselling author and hospitality expert Will Guidara, author of Unreasonable Hospitality, to explore a simple idea that has the power to change how we lead, work, and live: Never let a gracious impulse pass. From a brief conversation with a catering team that still talks about the experience years later to creating moments of surprise and wonder that people never forget, Will shares why hospitality has very little to do with restaurants and everything to do with making people feel seen. Along the way, they discuss why affirmation matters more than we realize, why some of the most meaningful things we do will never show up on a spreadsheet, and why creating a little more magic in the world might be one of the most important responsibilities we have as leaders. What This Episode Explores Why people never outgrow the need to feel seen What hospitality really means beyond customer service The competitive advantage of caring Why some ideas are worth more than their immediate return How to create moments people remember Why joy shouldn't be reserved for special occasions What happens when we stop letting gracious impulses pass If this episode makes you think of someone, don't just send them the link. Tell them why. Mentioned in This Episode Unreasonable Hospitality: https://www.unreasonablehospitality.com/products/unreasonable-hospitality-the-remarkable-power-of-giving-people-more-than-they-expect  The Unreasonable Hospitality Field Guide: https://www.unreasonablehospitality.com/products/unreasonable-hospitality-the-field-guide  Website: https://www.unreasonablehospitality.com  Milk Bar: https://milkbarstore.com  Follow Badass Softie Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/badasssoftiepod Website: https://www.badasssoftie.com

  5. Jun 15

    Maybe Consistency Isn't The Goal

    Melissa Greene spent years as a member of the Grammy-nominated Christian music group Avalon before becoming a pastor, speaker, writer, and advocate.   But along the way, life began challenging some of the beliefs she had always held—and forcing her to confront an uncomfortable truth: Growth doesn't happen by staying the same.   Melissa joins Dr. J.J. Peterson to explore what happens when certainty starts to crack, why changing your mind can feel so threatening, and how curiosity, compassion, and life experience can reshape the way we see ourselves and others.   While faith and theology are part of the conversation, this episode is really about something much bigger: growth, identity, and what happens when life asks us to become someone new. Together they explore a question many of us quietly wrestle with: Who are we becoming?   What We Explore • Why changing your mind can feel like changing your entire world • What happens when life no longer fits the story you've been told • Why some people stay curious while others double down • The power of meeting people beyond labels and assumptions • Why growth often requires letting go of certainty • What happens when your world gets bigger • Why you shouldn't expect to be the same person ten years from now   This episode is for you if you've ever questioned something you once believed, found yourself growing in unexpected ways, or wondered what it means to evolve without losing yourself along the way.   Mentioned in This Episode Substack: https://melissagreene.substack.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissagreene   Follow Badass Softie Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/badasssoftiepod Website: https://www.badasssoftie.com

  6. Jun 8

    Failure Doesn't Always Mean You're Wrong

    What happens when the strategy stops working, but the mission still matters? Dr. J.J. Peterson sits down with entrepreneur, author, and Copper founder Allison Trowbridge for a conversation about leadership, adaptation, and the difference between staying committed to a mission and staying attached to a plan. Over the course of building Copper, Allison faced investor rejections, major pivots, layoffs, and moments when continuing forward seemed impossible. Yet through every version of the company, one thing remained unchanged: the people she set out to serve. The result is a powerful leadership conversation about knowing what should remain fixed, what must evolve, and why some of the most important leadership decisions begin with letting go. What This Explores • Why great leaders stay committed to the mission—not the original strategy • The difference between persistence and stubbornness • How to know when a pivot is necessary • Why success can create more pressure, not less • What failure teaches that success never can • The role community plays when leadership feels lonely If this conversation resonated with you, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who is building something meaningful. MENTIONED IN THIS CONVERSATION Copper Books:  https://copperbooks.com/ Website: https://www.allisontrowbridge.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisontrowbridge/   Follow Badass Softie Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/badasssoftiepod Website: https://www.badasssoftie.com

  7. Jun 1

    What If You Had Nothing To Prove?

    What if the pressure you're carrying isn't coming from your workload, your business, or the world around you? What if it's coming from the belief that you still have something to prove? Dr. J.J. Peterson sits down with leadership coach and author Angus Nelson to explore why so many ambitious leaders feel exhausted, stuck, and disconnected from themselves despite achieving the very things they once thought would bring confidence and peace. Together, they unpack the hidden stories that drive our decisions, the permission we're constantly seeking from other people, and how chronic stress keeps us trapped in patterns of proving, performing, and pushing harder. Angus shares why nervous system resilience isn't really about managing stress—it's about reclaiming agency, challenging the stories that no longer serve you, and learning how to lead from a place of internal freedom rather than external validation. For anyone who has ever felt like success should feel better than this, this conversation offers a different path forward. What This Explores Why high achievers often feel like they still haven't done enough The hidden connection between self-permission and leadership How old stories shape the way we respond to pressure and uncertainty Why external success rarely resolves internal insecurity What it means to have nothing to prove—and why that's real power How to stop waiting for validation and start leading from conviction Mentioned In This Episode Get a copy of Angus Nelson's book "Neuro Resilient Leader" at https://angusnelson.com/freebook   Follow Badass Softie Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/badasssoftiepod Website: https://www.badasssoftie.com

  8. May 25

    People Experience You Before They Hear You

    Many leaders want their work to speak for itself. But whether we like it or not, people start forming opinions about us long before we ever say a word. Dr. J.J. Peterson and stylist and brand strategist Toi Sweeney explore the tension between authenticity and intention — and why showing up thoughtfully doesn’t have to mean hiding who you are. Together, they unpack why presence shapes trust, how color and clothing influence perception, and why the things we often try hardest to tone down about ourselves may actually be the clearest signal of who we are. Because leadership isn’t just heard. It’s experienced. What This Explores Why people form impressions faster than we think The tension between authenticity and expectation How presence affects trust, credibility, and connection What color communicates psychologically Why intentionality is different from vanity How to stand out without losing yourself Share this with someone who’s learning how to show up more fully as themselves instead of shrinking to fit the room. Mentioned In This Episode Toi Sweeney: https://toisweeney.com  Secrets of a Well-Dressed Brand: https://toisweeney.com/book    Follow Badass Softie Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/badasssoftiepod  Website: https://www.badasssoftie.com

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About

A Badass Softie is unapologetically ambitious and leads with heart. Ambitious and kind. Fun and driven. Powerful and deeply human. Badass Softie, hosted by Dr. J.J. Peterson, is a podcast that challenges the false choice leaders are too often given: be strong or be compassionate. The world doesn’t just need more leaders — it needs leaders bold enough to make an impact and compassionate enough to make it meaningful. Each episode pulls back the curtain on leaders, creators, and innovators who are rewriting the rules of what real leadership looks like. You’ll walk away with stories, insights, and practical takeaways that show you how to lead with both strength and softness — the very definition of being a Badass Softie. Subscribe and step fully into the kind of leader the world is waiting for. 

Information

  • Creator
    Dr. J.J. Peterson
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    48
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Badass Softie

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