Badass Softie

Dr. J.J. Peterson
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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. 3D AGO

    Maybe You Don’t Need More Discipline

    What if the problem isn’t discipline — but understanding how your brain actually works? In this conversation, Dr. JJ Peterson sits down with licensed therapist and co-host of the Something Shiny ADHD Podcast, Isabelle Richards, to explore how ADHD, neurodivergence, and what Isabelle calls being “neuro-spicy” can shape the way people lead, make decisions, manage pressure, and move through the world. Together, they unpack the difference between self-discipline and self-awareness — and why many leaders spend years trying to force themselves into systems that don’t actually fit how they think or function. This conversation reframes accommodations not as weakness, but as self-understanding in action. What You’ll Reflect On Why some people thrive under pressure but struggle with everyday decisions How ADHD and executive functioning differences can affect leadership and work The role shame plays in productivity, motivation, and self-worth What “meta-awareness” means and why it matters How leaders can create more psychologically safe environments Why understanding your needs can be more powerful than pushing harder For leaders navigating pressure, burnout, or the feeling that simple things shouldn’t feel this hard, this conversation offers language, clarity, and a more compassionate way forward. Resources Mentioned Download the ADHD Focus & Flow Finder to better understand the accommodations that support how you work best: https://www.somethingshinypodcast.com/finder Explore more conversations from the Something Shiny ADHD Podcast: https://www.somethingshinypodcast.com If this resonates, share it with someone who may be trying to succeed while quietly fighting the way they naturally work.

    36 min

  2. APR 27

    Why Some Experiences Stay With You

    Most experiences don’t stay with you. You go to a conference, an event, a workshop, and within a few days, most of it is gone. Not because it wasn’t good, but nothing made it stick. Dr. J.J. Peterson sits down with Matt Ford, experiential marketing expert behind activations for Adidas, Cartoon Network, and HGTV, to talk about the part most leaders overlook: what actually makes an experience stick. They get into why small details often carry more weight than big production budgets, how core memories form, and why most experiences lose their impact right when people walk out the door. What This Explores What experiential marketing looks like beyond big brand activations Why certain moments stick—and most don't What makes an experience feel worth it How to extend the connection instead of starting over every time Experience design without a big budget If you’re leading client work, hosting events, or building something where people show up in person, this is the part that determines whether they come back.   Mentioned In This Episode Collab Experiential: https://www.collabexperiential.com    Follow Badass Softie Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/badasssoftiepod/ Website: https://www.badasssoftie.com/

    28 min

  3. APR 20

    How to Succeed Without Losing Yourself (What No One Tells You)

    What happens when you get what you wanted and it doesn’t fix what you thought it would?   You can spend years working toward something, only to realize it doesn’t feel the way you expected.   In this episode, Dr. J.J. Peterson sits down with Al Andrews, founder of Porter’s Call, to talk about what success actually does to people—and why it doesn’t always bring the fulfillment we expect.   After decades of working with artists at every level, Al has seen the patterns of how success can isolate, identity can drift, and how easy it is to lose yourself while building something big.   They explore what it takes to stay grounded, close the gap between who you are and who people think you are, and lead in a way that doesn’t cost you your relationships or your sense of self.   Because the goal isn’t just to succeed, it’s to stay yourself while you do it. What This Explores Why success can feel empty—even when you get what you want The gap between your public image and your private life How isolation shows up as you grow What it means to “share your stage” as a leader How to lead with both strength and vulnerability If this resonates, share it with someone who’s building something meaningful and trying to hold onto who they are in the process.   Mentioned In This Episode Porter’s Call: https://porterscall.com  Follow Badass Softie Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/badasssoftiepod/ Website: https://www.badasssoftie.com/

    37 min

  4. APR 13

    Why Selling Feels Uncomfortable for So Many Leaders

    Selling shouldn’t feel like pressure, persuasion, or pretending to be someone you’re not. But for a lot of leaders, it does. In this episode, Dr. J.J. Peterson sits down with Bob Burg, co-author of The Go-Giver, to unpack why so many people feel uncomfortable with sales—and how a simple shift in perspective can change everything. They explore what happens when you stop trying to “get” the sale and start focusing on creating value, building trust, and actually helping the person in front of you. Because the problem isn’t selling, it’s how we’ve been taught to think about it. What This Explores Why so many leaders feel resistance or discomfort around selling The belief systems that shape how we show up in sales conversations The difference between trying to convince vs. trying to serve What it actually means to “provide value” (beyond just your product or service) Why people are often willing to pay more for a better experience The difference between price and value—and why it matters If this perspective resonates, share it with someone who has ever felt that tension—the pull between wanting to serve and feeling like they have to sell. They may not need better tactics. They may just need a better definition. Mentioned in This Episode The Go-Giver by Bob Burg & John David Mann: https://thegogiver.com/the-go-giver  The Go-Giver Sells More by Bob Burg & John David Mann: https://thegogiver.com/the-go-giver  Website: https://burg.com  Substack: https://bobburg.substack.com  The Speed of Trust by Stephen Covey: https://speedoftrust.com  Follow Badass Softie Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/badasssoftiepod Website: https://www.badasssoftie.com

    29 min

  5. APR 6

    Why Your Message Isn’t Landing (Yet)

    So many leaders feel like they’re saying the right things… and still not being heard. They create content. They follow the strategies. They build what they’ve been told will work. And yet—something doesn’t land. In this conversation, Dr. J.J. Peterson sits down with Macy Robison, a strategist behind the resonant thought leadership system, to explore why that disconnect happens—and what to do about it. Macy has spent years helping experts, authors, and entrepreneurs translate their ideas into messaging that actually resonates. Not by teaching them to be louder or more polished—but by helping them align how they communicate with how they naturally think, express, and lead. Because the truth is, not every voice is meant to show up the same way. Some leaders create transformation through speaking. Others through writing. Others through guiding experiences or solving problems in real time. And when you try to force yourself into a format that doesn’t fit, your message doesn’t just weaken—it disappears. This conversation unpacks the hidden reason so many messages fall flat, why traditional marketing tactics don’t work for everyone, and how understanding your natural communication style can completely change how you build your business and connect with others. It also challenges a belief many leaders quietly carry: that there’s a “right” way to show up. There isn’t. There’s only the way that actually works for you. If you’re curious how you naturally show up and communicate, Macy’s assessment is a powerful place to start: https://macyrobison.com/quiz What This Explores Why your message can be strong—but still not resonate The hidden mismatch between your voice and your strategy Why some marketing tactics feel ineffective (even when they work for others) Different ways leaders naturally communicate and create impact How to translate “in-the-room” magic into content that connects

    22 min

  6. MAR 30

    Why Great Leaders Don’t Try to Eliminate Tension

    Dr. J.J. Peterson sits down with designer, strategist, and storyteller Justin Ahrens to explore a part of leadership most people try to avoid: tension. There’s a natural pull to resolve things quickly—to choose a side, simplify the path, or chase clarity. But some of the most meaningful leadership doesn’t come from eliminating tension. It comes from learning how to stay present inside it. This conversation moves through the reality of holding competing priorities at the same time—the weight of doing meaningful work while navigating everyday responsibilities, the balance between ambition and humanity, and the challenge of staying grounded in a world that keeps speeding up. At the center of it all is a simple but difficult idea: the work itself isn’t what makes it meaningful. It’s how you show up while doing it. What This Explores Why tension isn’t something to fix, but something to pay attention to The difference between “important work” and meaningful leadership How to stay human while still pursuing ambitious goals What it looks like to lead with curiosity instead of certainty The role tension plays in growth, awareness, and better decision-making This conversation may resonate with you if you’ve ever questioned whether you’re doing the “right” kind of work, or felt the pull between who you want to be and what’s required of you. If it does, consider sharing it with someone who’s navigating that same tension—quietly trying to lead well without losing themselves in the process. Mentioned In This Episode Book: Be HumanKind: https://www.behumankind.today/ At The Table: https://www.atthetable.is/ Podcast: Running Aherns (Dr. J.J.’s episode): https://www.runningahrens.today/podcast/when-your-story-changes-how-jj-and-jamie-rebuilt-life-love-and-home Follow Badass Softie Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/badasssoftiepod/ Website: https://www.badasssoftie.com/

    28 min

  7. MAR 23

    What You Don’t Notice Matters More Than You Think

    There are things happening right in front of us that we can’t see. Not because we’re ignoring them. Not because we don’t care. But because our experience has never required us to notice them. Dr. JJ Peterson explores how two people can look at the same situation, care about the same outcome, and still walk away with completely different conclusions—not because one of them is wrong, but because they’re standing in a different place. Drawing on standpoint theory and real-world examples, Dr. JJ Peterson unpacks how lived experience shapes what feels normal, what feels like a problem, and what often goes unnoticed entirely. For leaders, this creates a critical challenge. Because the things we don’t have to think about are often the very things someone else is navigating every single day. And when those differences go unseen, they don’t just create misunderstanding—they create blind spots in leadership, communication, and decision-making. This perspective invites a shift away from certainty and toward curiosity, offering a more grounded and human way to lead, listen, and connect. What This Explores Why thoughtful, intelligent people can see the same situation differently How lived experience shapes perception and decision-making The blind spots that show up in leadership and communication Why empathy alone doesn’t replace lived experience How expanding perspective leads to stronger connections and better leadership  This may resonate with leaders who are striving to make thoughtful decisions while recognizing there may still be perspectives they haven’t yet seen. It may also resonate with those who often find themselves seeing things others don’t—and carrying the weight of that awareness. If this brought someone to mind, consider sharing it with them. Not to change their perspective, but to better understand where they’re standing.

    20 min

  8. MAR 16

    How Leaders Develop a Point of View

    In a world overflowing with information, what actually makes a leader stand out? It isn’t having more knowledge, better data, or more polished content. What separates leaders who shape the world from those who simply repeat what others say is something deeper: a clear point of view. But developing a point of view isn’t about trying to sound original or inventing ideas no one has ever heard before. It’s about understanding the experiences, insights, and beliefs that have shaped how you see the world. Dr. JJ Peterson explores how leaders develop perspectives that are uniquely their own — perspectives that guide decisions, shape culture, and influence others in meaningful ways. At the heart of that process are three places where powerful ideas are born: lived wisdom, paradigm shifts that change how we see familiar problems, and the layering of ideas that creates something new. When leaders learn to recognize and articulate those elements, their voice becomes clearer — and their leadership becomes more impactful. What This Explores Why information alone doesn’t create meaningful thought leadership How personal experiences and hard-earned wisdom shape perspective The power of paradigm shifts in leadership thinking How layering ideas can help you develop a unique voice Why developing a point of view requires courage as much as insight If this reflection resonates with you, it may also resonate with someone in your life who is trying to lead with both ambition and heart. Consider sharing it with a colleague, a friend, or a leader who is still discovering the perspective they bring to the world. Mentioned in This Episode: Learn more about Dr. JJ’s workshop: Become the Obvious Choice - https://www.story22.co.uk/storybrand-unreasonable-hospitality-workshop-in-london-2026/   If you are interested in doing this work with Dr. JJ, learn more on my website at - https://www.drjjpeterson.com/

    24 min
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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
    38
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Badass Softie

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