The Leaders of Influence Podcast with Anton Guinea

Anton Guinea
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Welcome to ”Leaders of Influence Podcast,” the podcast dedicated to helping you uncover and harness the power of your unique voice. Whether you’re a leader, an entrepreneur, a parent, or someone looking to make a difference, this podcast will guide you through strategies and insights to amplify your influence. Join us as we explore stories, tips, and actionable advice from industry experts and thought leaders to help you step into your full potential and leave a lasting impact on the world around you. Tune in and start leading with influence today!

  1. 11h ago

    Are you in the wrong circle? How to find your real community with Kate Naess

    What happens when you stop accepting other people’s limits and start writing your own story? In this episode, Paralympian, leadership coach, and organizational psychologist Kate Ness shares how she turned a childhood of “you won’t be able to…” into a life built on curiosity, courage, and high performance. Born with a hand difference and surrounded early on by doctors’ low expectations, Kate was raised by parents who chose a different narrative: “Kate will learn how Kate can.” From tying shoelaces and riding bikes to playing violin, horse riding, and eventually reaching the World Equestrian Games, everything became an experiment in finding another way. Along the way, a primary school teacher who believed she could do anything and an unforgettable moment with Keith Richards telling her not to stop doing what she was doing helped cement her sense of possibility. When her horse almost died after international travel and she later lost her mum to breast cancer, Kate didn’t step back she reinvented herself in a completely new sport, going from local tri club sessions to the Rio Paralympic Games in under two years.  With host Anton Guinea, Kate goes beyond the highlight reel to unpack what the Paralympic start line really felt like and how that experience now shapes her work in organizational psychology and leadership. She explains why in both elite sport and corporate life, the better you get, the more pressure you often feel and how most of that pressure comes from the stories we tell ourselves, not from the scoreboard. You’ll hear how great coaches like Corey Bacon and Danielle Stefano helped her by seeing potential she couldn’t yet see, holding her accountable, and asking her to do things she didn’t always like in the moment. Kate then connects those lessons to the workplace, showing why the best leaders act like interpreters of pressure, why being more human (people first, professionals second) is the real driver of engagement, and how curiosity, self-awareness, and genuine connection sit at the heart of true influence, high-performance culture, and human-centered leadership.    Takeaways:  Influence starts with curiosity – Real influence isn’t about force or “because I said so”; it’s about asking better questions so people can see new possibilities and their own potential.  Your story isn’t fixed – Being born with a hand difference and given limiting predictions didn’t stop Kate. With support and experimentation (“Kate will learn how Kate can”), she found her own ways to do almost everything.  Community and coaching are performance multipliers – Local tri clubs, supportive teammates, and coaches like Corey Bacon and Danielle Stefano helped Kate see what she was capable of long before she saw it herself.   Quotes:    “Kate will learn how Kate can. If she can’t do it the ‘normal’ way, she’ll find another way of doing it.”  “It’s not about forcing someone to change; it’s about bringing enough curiosity to the conversation that they start to see their own potential.”  “You don’t get to the Paralympic starting line by accident. You’re not a fluke – you’re there for a reason, even if your mind is trying to convince you otherwise.”    Timestamps:  00:00:01 – Meet Kate Ness: Family, Dogs, and Life Outside Sport 00:00:44 – What Influence Really Means to a Paralympian and Leadership Coach Anton asks Kate to define “influence,” and she explains why it’s not about force or authority, but about bringing curiosity to conversations so others can see new perspectives and their own potential.  00:02:21 – Born Different, Raised Without Limits 00:04:52 – Teachers, Awards, and Keith Richards’ Unforgettable Encouragement 00:07:43 – From Local Tri Club to Racing with Heroes  00:10:03 – Coaches Who See What You Can’t See Yet 00:12:06 – The Emotional Weight of the Rio Paralympics Start Line 00:16:14 – High Performance, High Pressure: Sport and Corporate Parallels 00:18:36 – Why She Chose Organizational Psychology 00:22:04 – Human-First Leadership and the Power of Curiosity Closing out the conversation, Kate offers practical tips for leaders: be more human, bring your whole self to work, connect as people before professionals, and use curiosity to understand what really drives individuals and teams.    Conclusion:  Paralympian, leadership coach, and organizational psychologist Kate Ness shares how a life that began with a hand difference and low external expectations became a powerful example of curiosity, courage, and high performance. She credits her parents for refusing limiting narratives, early mentors and even Keith Richards for reinforcing her potential, and coaches like Corey Bacon and Danielle Stefano for pushing her beyond what she thought she could do. From the local tri club to the Rio Paralympic Games, Kate’s story highlights the role of community, environment, and self-awareness in navigating pressure and change. Drawing on her transition into organizational psychology, she underscores the need for human-first leadership, genuine connection, and curiosity-driven conversations in modern workplaces. She closes with a message that real influence isn’t about force or titles, but about helping people reinterpret their own stories, see their potential more clearly, and show up fully on the start line, in the boardroom, and in everyday life.

  2. 2d ago

    Why Health Traits Are Born, Not Made with Jurie Rossouw

    Neuroscientist and resilience expert Jurie Rossouw explores how true resilience is less about “toughening up” and more about learning to advance despite adversity through deliberate self-care and skill-building. He frames influence as educating others so they can make better decisions, rather than inspiring or pressuring them with slogans. Jurie shares how his own struggles with depression as a teenager pushed him into decades of research that eventually led to the Predictive Six-Factor Resilience (PR6) model, built around six domains: vision, composure, reasoning, tenacity, collaboration, and health. He sees vision as the anchor that gives people a sense of purpose, while health quietly powers everything else by shaping how well the brain functions under pressure. Along the way, he reflects on population-level insights like Australia’s relatively low composure and strong health scores, how workplaces sometimes mistakenly expect resilience instead of supporting it, and his belief that resilience, properly understood, is a blueprint for sustainable self-care that everyone should have been taught at school.   Takeaways: Resilience = advancing despite adversity Resilience isn’t “toughen up and push it down”; it’s a long-term self-care strategy that lets you keep moving toward what matters, even under pressure. Vision drives the other resilience skills Of the six PR6 domains (vision, composure, reasoning, tenacity, collaboration, health), vision—a clear sense of meaning and purpose—has the biggest influence on the others and helps direct where you invest your energy. Organizations should support, not demand, resilience A healthy culture doesn’t just expect people to “be resilient” in a toxic environment; it actively creates conditions that support resilience (psychological safety, good work design) and then builds individual skills on top of that.   Quotes:   “The definition that I have for resilience is to advance despite adversity.” “It shouldn’t be a work environment that requires resilience; it should be a work environment that supports resilience.” “Resilience is an effective way of self-care to enable our personal sustainability in the long term.”   Timestamp: 0:00 – Opening: Foundations of Resilience 1:11 – Meet Jurie Rossouw: Neuroscientist & Resilience Expert 4:04 – Jurie’s Background and Global Perspective 4:49 – What Influence Really Means to Jurie 6:38 – Redefining Resilience: “Advance Despite Adversity” 7:17 – Breaking Down the PR6: Six Domains of Resilience 10:53 – Before vs After: Resilience for “Boom Events” 11:48 – Why Vision Is the Leverage Point 14:46 – The National Resilience Index: Australia’s Resilience Profile 17:26 – Comparing Australia and the U.S. on Resilience 17:57 – What Sparked Jurie's Journey into Neuroscience 20:21 – From Personal Struggle to Published Research 22:30 – Building the Predictive Six-Factor Resilience Model 23:30 – Why Health Is the Hardest (and Most Ignored) Domain 25:13 – How Body Health Shapes Brain Performance 26:53 – Coaches, Partners, and Global Impact of PR6 29:29 – Jurie’s View of Leadership: Clarity and Focus 31:02 – Resilience and Psychological Safety at Work 31:52 – Measuring Psychosocial Hazards with JSEC 35:42 – “Don’t Require Resilience; Support It” 36:36 – Global Vision: Mapping and Growing Resilience Worldwide 38:09 – Making Resilience Training Practical and Daily 40:00 – Anton’s Recap of Jurie’s Key Ideas 41:26 – Jurie’s Final Thought: Resilience as Sustainable Self-Care 41:58 – Closing and Call to Action   Conclusion: Resilience, as Jurie Rossouw explains, is not a heroic trait reserved for a few; it is a set of learnable skills that allow anyone to keep moving forward even when life doesn’t cooperate. His journey from teenage depression to published neuroscience researcher is a reminder that transformation often begins with quiet, persistent curiosity about how to feel and function better. Jurie's message is to stop treating resilience as “just toughening up” and start treating it as sustainable self-care built from six domains you can measure, train, and improve over time. He urges individuals to clarify their vision, the purpose and meaning behind their actions, because that clarity magnifies every other effort they make. And for leaders, his challenge is simple and profound: build workplaces that support resilience through psychological safety and good design, so people don’t have to burn themselves out just to survive.

  3. 5d ago

    The Power of Influence: How to Make It Work for You with Janine Jakob

    Leadership coach Janine Jakob and host Anton Guinea explore the themes of influence, impact, and resilient leadership through Janine’s personal and professional journey. Janine defines influence as a ripple effect that spreads globally, with impact being the outcome of that influence, and she emphasizes that even negative experiences can be reframed into growth opportunities through a resilient mindset. She shares how her multilingual background and cross-cultural experiences, shaped by learning several languages and working across continents, enable her to bridge cultures and foster better connections in organizations. Deeply influenced by her mother’s discipline, hard work, and values, as well as by a life-changing scholarship that allowed her to study in the U.S., Janine has built a career centered on “paying it forward” through mentorship, opportunity creation, and her long-running Monday Morning Motivation community, which helped many people through anxiety and depression, especially during COVID and Shanghai lockdowns. Drawing on her time at Hewlett Packard, she highlights empowerment, trust, development, and career opportunities as the traits that distinguish great leaders from average ones, arguing that strong leaders invest in people even at the risk of being surpassed. Finally, she explains why podcasting is such a powerful tool for authority building, relationship creation, and content leverage, showing how it supports both personal branding and genuine human connection in today’s AI-enabled, globally networked world.   Takeaways: Influence is a ripple effect, grounded in mindset. Janine sees influence as ripples that spread across borders, with impact being the outcome of those ripples. Even hard or “negative” events can become powerful growth moments if we choose to reframe them rather than ruminate. Great leaders invest, empower, and develop people. Inspired by her HP leaders, Janine stresses that strong leaders trust their people, give them resources and coaching, and even prepare them to surpass them. They create opportunities, nurture talent, and work to keep their best people growing—not hold them back. Paying it forward creates long-term impact. A scholarship that changed Janine’s life drives her to invest in others through mentoring, introductions, and projects like Monday Morning Motivation, which helped people through depression and anxiety. She extends this pay-it-forward philosophy into tools like podcasting, using it to build authentic relationships, visibility, and scalable positive influence.   Quotes: "I prefer to look at impact and influence in a positive way, because even if it's something negative at the end, it always depends on your mindset and what you do out of it." "If you want to have influence and impact, the more different languages you speak nowadays, the better it is... a language connects people and cultures, and that's how we can make an even bigger impact and have a better influence." "Someone did something good for me and invested in me, and that's why it's so important for me that I invest in other people... I really believe in paying it forward."   Timestamp:  00:00 Influence, impact, and mindset 00:38 Leaders of Influence podcast introduction 03:00 Welcoming guest Janine Jacob 03:25 Defining influence: ripples and global impact 05:36 Resilience, reframing, and positive outcomes 05:56 Janine’s multilingual background 07:19 Learning languages and global career opportunities 08:19 Language, culture, and influencing for peace 08:55 Biggest personal influence: Janine’s mother 09:40 Discipline, hard work, and values from family 10:50 Key professional influence and sponsored exchange year 11:14 Life-changing scholarship and studying in the U.S. 13:30 Paying it forward: mentoring and opening doors for others 16:39 Monday Morning Motivation community story 18:47 Mental health, lockdowns, and real impact on followers 20:47 Selling the Monday Morning Motivation brand 22:15 Anton reflects and parallels his own work 23:12 What separates strong leaders from average ones 23:19 Empowering leadership at Hewlett Packard 25:26 Trust, feedback, and developing human potential 26:02 Investing in talent and creating roles to keep great people 27:34 How HP shaped Janine’s leadership style and culture 28:04 Full Potential Partners: Janine’s pitch 29:45 Power of high-quality networks and private clubs 31:21 No d******d policy and surrounding yourself with good humans 33:28 Why podcasting is such a powerful tool 33:49 Podcasting for learning, relationships, and sales 35:20 Using AI to repurpose podcast content 36:39 Authenticity, video, and nonverbal communication 37:07 Episode wrap-up and leadership lessons 40:07 Janine’s final mantra: unlocking your full potential   Conclusions: Influence, for Janine, is less about status and more about the quiet choices we make to turn hardship into fuel for growth and to lift others as we climb. Her journey shows how discipline, multilingual curiosity, and one act of belief from a stranger can redirect an entire life—and inspire a lifelong commitment to paying that belief forward. Leadership, in her world, means empowering people so fully that they might one day surpass you, and seeing that not as a threat but as success. Tools like podcasting, AI, and curated networks are simply amplifiers for that deeper work of connection, service, and visibility. In the end, the real challenge is personal: choose one idea that stood out and use it this week to create a small ripple of positive impact for someone else.

  4. Aug 11

    Why I Choose to See the Best in Everyone at Work with Jamie Parsons

    Jamie explains how his upbringing in Melbourne’s western suburbs, backpacking and working in an Aboriginal health organization in Tennant Creek, and long involvement in sport have shaped his values of optimism, calm under stress, inclusion, and belonging. He defines influence as using these values to positively impact others, especially by using sport and education as vehicles for connection, social capital, and a sense of belonging. Jamie highlights several key mentors, such as Russell Wilson, Kate Palmer, Nick Beckinsale, and Michael O’Neill, who showed him more modern, people-centered, and strategic models of leadership and how government and sport can drive positive social and economic outcomes. He is particularly proud of leading Gymnastics Victoria as a learning-focused, customer service–oriented organization that developed staff so well that multiple team and board members went directly into CEO roles, including several women, reflecting his commitment to progressive, inclusive leadership development. Takeaways: Influence comes from values and mindset, not title – Jamie sees influence as living with optimism, calm under pressure, and genuine care, using sport and education to create connection, belonging, and positive impact. Great leaders develop other leaders – At Gymnastics Victoria, Jamie intentionally made it a learning and customer-service organization, helping several staff and board members (many of them women) step directly into CEO roles in other sports bodies. Inclusion and simplicity are strategic advantages – Jamie emphasizes inclusive leadership (especially supporting women and young staff to step up) and the importance of uncomplicating systems so people are clear, empowered, and able to do their best work. Quotes: "I think if we try and come in with a positively optimistic mindset into everything we do, that means we're going to enjoy our work more, we're going to enjoy the people we work with more, and our outcomes are going to be better." "I think I learned early on that trying to not be yourself isn't ideal, and whilst you might take on the attributes of others or try and take on the best of other people, at the end of the day, you just need to be yourself." "We weren't a sports administration organization. We were a customer service learning-focused organization, and we really wanted to develop our staff, and we knew by developing our staff that we would succeed as an organization."   Timestamp: 00:00 – Why Being a Good Person Matters in Leadership 01:14 – Podcast Intro & Jamie’s Background 03:16 – What Has Influenced Jamie as a Leader 06:21 – Defining Influence 08:40 – Leaders Who Shaped Jamie 12:36 – Government, Sport & Social Capital 18:11 – Developing Future CEOs at Gymnastics Victoria 23:16 – Supporting Women into Leadership 28:39 – Jamie’s Leadership Mantra 31:51 – Leadership Lessons from a Conductor 32:21 – Purpose and the ‘Why’ of Leadership 34:15 – Wrap-Up & Final Message Conclusion: Jamie highlights that real influence in leadership comes from who you are, not just what you do or the title you hold. His journey—from community health in Tennant Creek to leading major sporting and school networks—shows how optimism, authenticity, and a focus on connection and belonging can shape entire organizations. By treating sport and education as vehicles for social capital, he’s demonstrated that you can build both strong communities and strong results. His proudest achievements aren’t trophies or titles, but the leaders he has helped develop—especially women and younger staff—by creating a learning-focused, customer-service culture. Ultimately, his message is simple and powerful: make your objectives clear, keep things as uncomplicated as possible, and make sure people have fun at work—because that’s the environment where influence and impact naturally grow.

  5. Aug 9

    Allan Jefferson: The Pre-Compliance Advantage in Racing

    Allan explains that he doesn’t view his achievements as superhuman, but as opportunities to inspire others to attempt what they once believed impossible, whether that’s getting out of bed or tackling a major goal. He describes the Race Across America, a 5,000 km ride with 55,000 meters of elevation in 12 days, and how absolute trust in his crew, pre-compliance with their decisions, and a focus on movement over metrics keep him going. Their exchange highlights powerful life metaphors: address niggles early, smile to lift the team, and remember that “while there’s movement, there’s hope,” even when pain and fatigue are overwhelming. Allan also shares candid details about physical hardship, crew dynamics, and preparation, showing how elite endurance sport, gratitude, and having fun under pressure blend into a practical philosophy of high-performance leadership. Takeaways: Influence is about small, real impact. Allan doesn’t see himself as superhuman; his goal is to help someone take one step they thought was impossible—whether that’s getting out of bed or attempting a huge challenge. Trust your team and be “pre-compliant.” In the Race Across America, Allan’s crew has information he doesn’t, so he chooses to comply with their calls 95% of the time, even when he doesn’t like them—because their only job is to get him safely to the finish. Quotes: "If I can make a difference in somebody's life and make them actually get up and do something for the day, whether it's just actually get out of bed for the day, or, you know, go off undertake something that they thought was, I guess, impossible... if we can just change one of those and make their day a little bit better, I think that's pretty cool." Timestamp:  00:00 – Trusting the Crew and Being “Pre-Compliant” 01:14 – Leaders of Influence Intro & Allan Jefferson’s Background 03:36 – Introducing Greg the Crew Chief & Setting the Topic 04:01 – What Influence Means to Allan 07:00 – Men, Mental Health, and Hiding Struggles 07:47 – Not a David Goggins: Allan’s Different Style 08:31 – Doppelganger, Public Persona, and Attention 09:12 – How Allan Got Into Cycling in Hokitika, New Zealand 09:33 – Explaining the Coast to Coast Multi-Sport Event 10:04 – The Race Across America: Distance, Elevation, and States 11:24 – Why Race Across America? The Solo Rider Inspiration 13:18 – What Do You Think About at 2 a.m.? Inside Allan’s Head 17:46 – Using the Crew as Mental Support & Conversation 19:21 – Why Allan Hides the Numbers (Speed, Distance, Time) 20:59 – Day vs Night: How He Mentally Breaks Up the Race 21:32 – Distractions vs Focus and The “Just Keep Moving” Rule 22:06 – “While There’s Movement, There’s Hope” 23:00 – Deep Gratitude for the Crew & The One Rule: Have Fun 24:00 – The Rhythm of Conversation, Venting, and Quiet 25:20 – Crew Reading Allan’s State and Acting Proactively 26:31 – Life Metaphor: “What Can We Do Now to Make Life Easier?” 27:19 – Is Allan Easy to Influence? Compliance vs Pushback 27:39 – Trusting the Crew’s Decisions Even When He Disagrees 31:30 – Smiling to Lift the Team and Change the Mood 32:08 – “You Smile, and the World Smiles Back” 32:32 – Burger Gate: The Cheeseburger Controversy 35:17 – Lessons from Burger Gate: Managing Cravings and Fuel 36:01 – Saddle Sores, Chafing, and Pain Management 38:10 – Treating Problems Early: Inspections and “Special Sauce” 39:16 – Practical Gear Tips: Double Shorts, Lube, and Modesty 40:18 – Why Allan Uses Dry Lube and How the Crew Applies It 40:41 – Heading Back to Race Across America Again 40:53 – 2024 Crash, Neck Issues, and Training Limitations 43:23 – Shermer’s Neck Explained and How He Manages It 45:03 – What New Endurance Athletes Should Do First 45:34 – Race Across the West as a Stepping Stone 46:51 – Having Fun 80% of the Time and the 1% Hurt Locker 47:53 – Acknowledging Pain Without Focusing on It 48:34 – Sponsorship, Cost of Racing, and Support 49:38 – Anton’s Wrap-Up: Metaphors for Life from the Race Conclusion: Allan Jefferson’s Race Across America is more than an ultra-endurance feat; it’s a living lesson in trust, resilience, and leading with gratitude under pressure. His philosophy—fix the small niggles early, lean on your crew, keep moving, and remember that “while there’s movement, there’s hope”—turns a brutal bike race into a powerful metaphor for life and leadership.

  6. Aug 6

    Client Won't Change? Maybe You're Missing This With Dr. Jae Koonce

    Dr. Jae describes his recent Spartan Race, a 5K obstacle course involving walls, heavy carries, rope climbs, water wades, barbed wire crawls, and grip-intensive obstacles, emphasizing how he arrived late, used each obstacle to pass other competitors, and refused to stop even when he wanted to quit. He explains that his mindset during the race was driven by self-influence: focusing on the next person ahead, maintaining the identity of someone who “does hard things,” and feeling accountable to people he imagines are watching him, which keeps him from walking when others slow down. Anton highlights this as a powerful example of self-leadership and influence, noting that Dr. Jae is usually the one inspiring others, and uses this to transition into a deeper exploration of Bitcoin, how it is often misunderstood, and how Dr. Jae uses it to help people think about changing their lifestyle and mindset, setting the stage for a Bitcoin-focused discussion in the next part of the conversation. Takeaways: Self-influence and identity drive persistence: Dr. J uses challenges like the Spartan Race to reinforce the identity of someone who “does hard things,” which helps him push through discomfort in races and in life. Bitcoin as permissionless, non-inflationary money: He frames Bitcoin as money outside government-controlled systems—capped at 21 million, resistant to inflation, and enabling people to store and move value without relying on banks or central authorities. “Stack sats, get fit” long-term mindset: Dr. J’s coaching philosophy links health and Bitcoin: invest in your body and in hard money now so that in 10–20 years you have both the physical capacity and the financial resilience to enjoy the future instead of spending everything on rising healthcare costs. Quotes: "If I can do that, I can do this. You know, it just helps." "Bitcoin allows you to move and exchange value outside of the rails of the government without having to ask permission for anybody. You can be your own bank, as they say." "I say saving Bitcoin or stack sats get fit, because the two things you can control are your health and your money." Timestamps: 0:00 – Intro & Who Is Dr. Jae Koonce? 1:20 – From Pharmacy to Proof of Work Fitness 3:14 – What Is a Spartan Race? 3:34 – Inside the Obstacles & Strategy 5:30 – “I Can Do Hard Things”: Mental Toughness 6:38 – Self-Influence and Not Quitting 9:04 – Transition: From Mindset to Bitcoin 10:09 – Bitcoin Myths vs. Reality 11:30 – Bitcoin, Countries, and Game Theory 12:30 – Being Your Own Bank 13:30 – How to Get Started with Bitcoin 16:16 – The Bitcoin White Paper & Satoshi 16:28 – Inflation, Gold, and Broken Money 18:31 – Mining, Scarcity, and Energy 19:24 – Using Bitcoin in Fitness Coaching 21:54 – Scams, Reputation, and Real Adoption 22:14 – Wallets, Seed Phrases, and Security 25:03 – Lost Bitcoin and Fixed Supply 27:25 – Inheritance, Taxes, and the Ecosystem 28:47 – Volatility and “Stacking Sats” 29:40 – Health Costs, Bitcoin, and the Future 30:16 – “Bitcoin Is Dead” (Again) 32:30 – Transparency, Taxes, and Responsibility 33:43 – Bitcoin as Stored Time and Energy 34:41 – Outro & Where to Find Dr. Jae Conclusion: Bitcoin, fitness, and mindset all point to the same underlying principle: choosing to do hard things now so life becomes easier later. Treating Bitcoin as long-term, permissionless money shifts focus from short-term price swings to accumulating durable value over decades, just as training and smart lifestyle choices compound into resilience and lower health costs over time. The discipline of finishing a Spartan Race when every part of you wants to quit mirrors the discipline of consistently “stacking sats” and staying committed to habits that don’t pay off immediately but change who you become. Health, wealth, and personal sovereignty stop looking like separate goals and start to feel like different expressions of the same decision: to own your choices, your energy, and your future instead of outsourcing them to systems that don’t necessarily have your best interests at heart. Links:  Find Dr. Jae Koonce and his work at:  • Website: https://www.proofofwork.fit/ • Proof of Work Fitness App on apple (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/proof-o...) and android (https://play.google.com/store/apps/de...) • Instagram: proofofworkfitness   • LinkedIn: pharmacistjeremiahkoonce

  7. Aug 4

    The Mindset of an Olympian: Success Starts Here with Manuela Berchtold

    Manuela describes the emotional experience of standing in an Olympic start gate knowing she has done everything possible to prepare, and reflects on her 2006 Torino Games, where she finished 14th in mogul skiing and was the first Australian woman to make the moguls final. She emphasizes how sport shaped her identity, discipline, and mindset, even though, as a winter athlete, she was largely unpaid and had to self-fund much of her journey. A major theme is influence as intentional role-modeling: choosing positive influences, being careful about who you let shape your life, and striving to be a positive mentor for others, including the athletes she now supports off-snow through fitness, mindset, and goal-setting work. Manuela shares that her family’s example, active, healthy parents in their 80s and a brother who was also an elite skier and now a stuntman, deeply influenced her optimism and work ethic, and she now takes pride in learning she has, in turn, inspired athletes like Nicole Parks and Sami Kennedy-Sim. Throughout, both Manuela and Anton highlight how positivity, energy, and genuine belief in others can powerfully influence performance and life choices, often in ways you don’t realize until years later.   Takeaways: Influence is a choice—both in who you follow and how you show up. Manuela stresses being intentional about who you let influence you (mentors, role models, circles) because those choices directly shape your outcomes. Positivity and belief in others are powerful performance multipliers. She challenges the “tough, negative coach” model and shows how genuine encouragement—simply saying “I believe in you”—can change an athlete’s trajectory more than criticism can. Your example reaches further than you realize. Manuela only discovered years later that athletes like Nicole Parks and Sami Kennedy-Sim saw her as a major influence, proving that your consistent actions, energy, and work ethic may be inspiring people who’ve never even told you.   Quotes: On choosing your influences carefully "We need to be very careful who we use as influence in our lives, because when we choose correctly with our influences, it makes a big, big difference." On giving your all on the Olympic stage "When I stood at the bottom of that course after my run, if I was last or first, the result wouldn't matter because I couldn't have done any more, and that's the amazing experience that I was able to have through training and dedication." On the underrated power of positivity "Positivity will always outweigh negativity. Positivity will help you through a situation... I just think positivity is so often underrated."   Timestamps: 00:00 – What Influence Really Means 01:10 – Podcast Introduction & Manuela’s Bio 04:19 – What It Feels Like to Be an Olympian 07:27 – Results, Goals, and Judged Sports 08:57 – The Fragility of Olympic Dreams 09:51 – Transitioning to “Real Life” After Sport 10:24 – How Sport Shapes Identity and Life 11:59 – Defining Influence & Choosing Your Circle 13:42 – Family as the Ultimate Role Models 16:30 – Near Miss: Her Brother’s Olympic Story 17:13 – Early Mogul Heroes: Edgar & Donna 18:43 – Staying in the Sport: Coaching & Mentoring 20:26 – The Power of “I Believe in You” 21:17 – Positivity, Energy, and Influence 25:02 – Who Has Manuela Influenced? 28:30 – Being the Best Version of Yourself Daily 29:49 – Small-Town Roots: Growing Up in Jindabyne 30:38 – COVID, Mountain Life & Community Growth 30:47 – Final Reflections on Influence & Excellence   Conclusion:   Manuela Berchtold ultimately shows that influence is less about status and more about consistent character. Her story as a two-time Winter Olympian, gym owner, and mentor reveals how preparation, resilience, and optimism can carry someone from elite sport into a meaningful “second career” of service to others. She demonstrates that who you choose to model, and how you choose to show up every day, quietly shapes not only your own life but the lives of people watching you—often without you realizing it until years later. The way Manuela speaks about her family, her heroes, her athletes, and her town of Jindabyne reinforces a simple but powerful theme: positivity, belief, and generosity with your knowledge are forms of leadership and influence available to anyone, not just Olympians. If there’s one lasting message from this episode, it’s that striving to be the best version of yourself—consistently and visibly—may be the greatest influence you ever have.

  8. Aug 2

    The Leadership Mistake That's Driving Your Best Employees Away with Teagan Dowler

    Anton introduces Teagan as a leadership and culture expert who grew up in a mining community, blending backgrounds in psychology and HR to focus on inclusive, high-performing cultures in high-risk environments. Teagan explains that influence is not limited to formal leaders; it comes from relationships, perspectives, and the “leadership shadow” leaders cast through their behavior and positional power. She shares her origin story, including early work coaching leaders in underground coal mines and the gendered challenges she faced, which later drove her to found Blue Collared Woman and write The Rules of the Game: Women in Masculine Industries. A major theme is mental health, particularly the disproportionate suicide rates among working-age men and the strain of FIFO work, reinforcing the need for honest discussion, support services, and leaders trained in mental health first aid. Teagan and Anton also highlight empathy and emotional intelligence as critical leadership traits, distinguish kindness from mere “niceness,” and stress aligning leadership with personal purpose so that leaders create genuine, lasting positive impact.   Takeaways: Influence is for everyone, not just titled leaders Teagan emphasizes that influence comes from relationships, perspectives, and daily behavior, meaning anyone in an organization can shape culture and outcomes, regardless of role. Psychological safety and mental health are critical in heavy industry The conversation highlights high suicide risk among working-age men, the strain of FIFO and night shift, and the lasting impact of fatalities, underscoring the need for open dialogue, support, and mentally healthy workplaces. Empathy and emotional intelligence are core leadership skills Effective leaders combine self-awareness with genuine care, choosing kindness (including tough, honest conversations) over superficial “niceness,” and aligning their leadership with a deeper sense of purpose and value   Quotes: "Influence for me is something that anyone can possess, and it's our ability to create a lasting impact and to influence the people around us for good or for not so good." "I just followed a purpose, a heart-driven purpose, and I truly believe that when we are aligned with the thing that lights us up... that's the ticket." "We should not focus on being nice; rather, we should focus on being kind, because nice means that we shy away from the hard conversations... whereas kindness is doing the hard thing, knowing   Timestamps: 0:00 – Culture change & mental health in heavy industry 0:50 – Podcast intro & Teagan’s bio 3:14 – What influence really means 5:22 – Why people really become leaders 6:35 – Origin story: From coal town to leadership coach 8:57 – Coaching underground coal leaders as a young woman 9:21 – Gendered challenges and sexual overtones in mining 11:43 – Men’s mental health and heavy industry risk 12:20 – The reality of FIFO and the cost of “doing it for the money” 14:33 – Psychological safety, suicides, and fatalities 16:46 – Call to reach out for help and support 17:04 – Launching Blue Collared Woman (BCW) 18:42 – “That’s a dumb idea”: Pushback from dad and mentor 19:54 – From anonymous blog to national platform 20:56 – Influence through purpose, not a marketing plan 22:23 – Being of value & legacy 24:21 – Parenting as the most important leadership role 26:17 – Generational change: Letting the next generation lead 27:21 – Wisdom vs. rigidity in experienced leaders 28:45 – People vs. process: The gray zone of leadership 31:03 – DISC profiles and changing styles over time 33:18 – Knowing when you’re “being a D” 34:28 – Adapting to others’ styles, not just your own 35:27 – The engineer who “did leadership as a task” 36:33 – You can’t fake care: Heart vs. checklist 40:06 – The dark triad and empathy spectrum 41:26 – Nervous systems, stress, and psychosocial safety 41:45 – Emotional intelligence: Not creating negative emotional experiences 45:12 – Final homework: Walk in with more empathy 45:26 – Host wrap‑up & calls to action   Conclusion: The conversation ultimately lands on a very human, hopeful note: real leadership in heavy industry isn’t about titles, toughness, or having a perfect strategy, but about caring enough to tell the truth, to listen, and to keep people safe—physically and psychologically. Teagan’s journey from coal-town kid to industry influencer shows how one person’s decision to “hit publish” on an uncomfortable truth can ripple out into cultural change. Anton’s reflections reinforce that when leaders align their work with purpose and empathy, they don’t just improve performance; they literally help keep people alive and well in some of the toughest workplaces on earth. Together, they challenge listeners to stop treating people as tasks, to question their own “I must be right” stories, and to walk into their next interaction with just a little more courage and compassion than they had yesterday.

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Welcome to ”Leaders of Influence Podcast,” the podcast dedicated to helping you uncover and harness the power of your unique voice. Whether you’re a leader, an entrepreneur, a parent, or someone looking to make a difference, this podcast will guide you through strategies and insights to amplify your influence. Join us as we explore stories, tips, and actionable advice from industry experts and thought leaders to help you step into your full potential and leave a lasting impact on the world around you. Tune in and start leading with influence today!

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