Beyond Leading

Beyond Leading
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Welcome to Beyond Leading — the podcast that cuts through the noise to get real about leadership, team dynamics, personal growth, and the messy, brilliant reality of work, life, and everything in between. We’re your hosts, Alec Pearson, Tiffany Barnard and Nick Sellers — practitioners who’ve led teams, navigated pressure, and now coach leaders at every level. We’re here for honest conversations about what it really takes to lead well in today’s world. This isn’t another podcast full of jargon and glossy success stories. We share grounded insights from decades of real experience — the kind learned in the trenches, not in theory — along with practical strategies that genuinely stick. And one thing we’re clear on: we don’t claim to have all the answers. Every leader, every team, every situation is different. What we want to do is spark ideas, open new ways of thinking, and give you space to reflect on what will work in your world. If an episode helps you see a familiar challenge differently, we’ve done our job. Every fortnight, we dive into the challenges ambitious leaders and teams are facing right now — from building trust and navigating tough CEO dilemmas to handling soft burnout, staying relevant, or simply keeping pace when everything feels like too much. You’ll hear personal reflections, plenty of laughs, some sharp truths, and inspiring guests who’ve lived it, led through it, and grown because of it. If you're a leader, a team player, a business owner, or someone who wants to show up better and move forward with more purpose, this podcast is your space. Subscribe and join us every two weeks for conversations that challenge the status quo, spark real growth, and help you lead beyond the title. To download a factsheet for any of our episodes please visit: https://beyond-leading.captivate.fm/episodefactsheet 🎙 Let’s go beyond leading — and everything in between.

  1. MAY 7

    Ep 16 - Procrastination: It's Not What You Think

    with Alec Pearson, Nick Sellers and Tiffany Barnard. In this episode of Beyond Leading, we tackle something every leader, manager and professional quietly struggles with, but rarely talks about honestly - Procrastination. This conversation challenges some of the most common assumptions people make about why they put things off. It is not about laziness. It is not about poor time management. And it is not always a bad thing. We explore: what procrastination really is, and what it is notwhere the line is between putting something off and genuinely thinking it throughthe role perfectionism and self-doubt play and why most people never make the connectionwhy some leaders actually need stress to get things done, and whether that is a good thingthe practical approaches that help, and why some popular advice misses the markwhat procrastination reveals about how leaders ask for help If you have ever found yourself doing everything except the one thing you actually need to do - this episode is for you. Follow Beyond Leading on LinkedIn for episode clips and updates: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beyond-leading-podcast Follow/subscribe to Beyond Leading for new episodes — wherever you listen.

    30 min

  2. APR 23

    Ep 15 - Rich Carter: Building a Culture of Speed in an Increasingly Complex World

    with Alec Pearson and Rich Carter, Chief Growth Officer and President of Advanced Programs at Albers Aerospace. In this episode of Beyond Leading, we sit down with a leader who operates at the sharp end of one of the most fast-moving, high-stakes industries in the world: aerospace and defence. The world leaders are operating in right now is faster, more complex and more unpredictable than anything most leadership textbooks prepared us for. So what does it actually take to lead well in that environment? We explore: why speed has become the defining leadership challenge of our timehow to lead from the front when the plan changes before the day has even startedwhy banning the word "I" might be one of the most powerful cultural shifts a leader can makethe frozen middle and how to thaw itwhether the old leadership playbook needs throwing out or simply evolvinghow to think about AI as a tool, not a threat, and what that means for your peoplegenerational differences, reverse mentoring and why diverse teams move fasterand what to say to the leader who is tired, overwhelmed and wondering where to start This is a practical, honest conversation from someone who has done it, and is still doing it. About Rich Carter Rich Carter is Chief Growth Officer and President of Advanced Programs at Albers Aerospace. With over 20 years of executive leadership experience, he drives revenue generation, business development, and customer relationships serving the U.S. Intelligence Community, the Pentagon, international partners, and commercial entities. Previously, Rich held executive roles at MAG Aerospace, Lockheed Martin, and Sierra Nevada Corporation. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Bucknell University and a Master of Science from Stony Brook University. About Albers Aerospace Albers Aerospace is a proud company built by Warfighters and committed teammates who share a deep passion for serving the Nation. For the past decade, the company has delivered exceptional value across its Industrials, Defense, and Advanced Programs sectors — operating with a People First, Mission Always mindset. Through its Industrials division, Albers provides vertically integrated, full-spectrum manufacturing capabilities that strengthen the aerospace and defense industrial base. In Defense, the company delivers products and services within complex, multi-security environments — ensuring readiness, reliability, and mission success. Through Advanced Programs, Albers solves emerging challenges with agility, innovation, and technical precision. Albers Aerospace exists to make a difference — for the country, for the men and women who serve it, and for the future of aerospace and defense. The team brings operational insight, engineering excellence, and an unwavering commitment to quality in everything they do. Follow Beyond Leading on LinkedIn for episode clips and updates: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beyond-leading-podcast Follow/subscribe to Beyond Leading for new episodes — wherever you listen.

    48 min

  3. APR 9

    Ep 14 - EQ Beyond The Buzzword: It Starts With You

    with Alec Pearson, Tiffany David and Graham Da Costa. Emotional intelligence. Two words that have been talked about, trained, workshopped and plastered on LinkedIn until they mean almost nothing. So why are we talking about it? Because most of what you've heard about EQ only scratches the surface. It isn't a personality type. And it definitely isn't something you either have or you don't. In this episode of Beyond Leading, we get underneath it, the real, unfiltered version of emotional intelligence that shows up in how you lead, how you connect, and how you read the room when it actually matters. We explore: why 85% of us are less self-aware than we think we are — and what that's costing ushow your triggers, your energy and your values are shaping every relationship you have, whether you know it or notwhy face-to-face connection does something Zoom never willthe assumptions quietly destroying your team relationshipsand whether the next generation of leaders are arriving in the workplace with an EQ gap nobody is talking about This isn't another definition of emotional intelligence. It's a challenge to how you think about it. Follow Beyond Leading on LinkedIn for episode clips and updates: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beyond-leading-podcast Follow/subscribe to Beyond Leading for new episodes — wherever you listen.

    42 min

  4. MAR 26

    Ep 13 - Growth Through Discomfort: How Pain, Fear and Stretch Build Resilience

    with Alec Pearson, Tiffany Barnard and Nick Sellers. In this episode of Beyond Leading, we explore a question that sits at the heart of leadership, growth and change: Can we gain from pain? When does discomfort lead to progress, and when does it simply wear us down? How much of what we call “pain” is really fear, stretch, uncertainty or anticipation? And what happens when the very thing we are avoiding may be the thing that helps us grow? We explore: the difference between positive stretch and toxic pressurewhy growth so often feels uncomfortablehow leaders, coaches and individuals can think more carefully about what challenge is useful - and what challenge is too much.fear, self-labelling, resilience, public speaking, personal growth, team developmentthe role of coaching in helping people move beyond the beliefs and experiences that keep them stuck. If you are navigating change, supporting others through growth, or trying to understand the difference between discomfort that develops you and pressure that drains you, this episode will give you plenty to reflect on. Follow Beyond Leading on LinkedIn for episode clips and updates: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beyond-leading-podcast Follow/subscribe to Beyond Leading for new episodes — wherever you listen.

    30 min

  5. MAR 12

    Ep 12 - Consistency Wins: The Real Way Credibility Gets Built

    with Alec Pearson, Nick Sellers and Gemma Dawe. When you hear “starting a business during Covid”, it’s easy to assume it was a brave leap. But sometimes it isn’t a leap at all, it’s being kicked off a cliff and choosing to build on the way down. In this episode Alec and Nick speak to Gemma, a business owner who launched a specialist relocation and buying-agent service in September 2020, right in the middle of uncertainty, restrictions, and a property market behaving in ways nobody could predict. What follows is a conversation about how credibility is really built. Not through polish, shortcuts, or having the perfect plan, but through consistency, trust, and staying in your lane when distractions start shouting. We discuss: • Redundancy as a trigger and what it takes to act before you feel “ready” • The buyer’s perspective, and the psychology behind major decisions • Building credibility through consistency, opinion, and trust • Staying in your lane: opportunity vs distraction • Time, boundaries, and networking as a long game Follow Beyond Leading on LinkedIn for episode clips and updates: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beyond-leading-podcast Follow/subscribe to Beyond Leading for new episodes — wherever you listen.

    32 min

  6. MAR 5

    Ep 11 - When the Signal Thins: Leadership in the Aftershock Era

    with Alec Pearson. In this solo episode, Alec reflects on something many leaders are quietly feeling but struggling to name - why leadership feels heavier, even when nothing is technically “wrong”. Drawing on his recent Aftershock Era series on The Strategic Leader on Substack, Alec explores how accumulated pressure, rather than dramatic crisis, is shaping decision-making, energy and strategic clarity across organisations. In this conversation Alec explores: Why leadership can feel heavier even in the absence of visible crisisThe difference between tired teams and thinning teams - and why it mattersHow soft burnout quietly affects judgement, not just wellbeingWhy organisations can be busy yet feel like nothing is really movingThe subtle shift from strategic growth to cultural cautionHow external fragmentation and AI acceleration are thinning the signal leaders rely onThe difference between decisions made from clarity and decisions driven by pressureA simple discipline to restore focus, capacity and momentum when drift sets in If you’re a CEO, founder, partner or senior leader sensing that something feels slightly off - not broken, just heavier - this episode offers language, structure and reflection to help you regain orientation. For the deeper thinking behind this episode, explore the full Aftershock series on The Strategic Leader on Substack: https://thestrategicleader.substack.com Follow Beyond Leading on LinkedIn for episode clips and updates: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beyond-leading-podcast Follow/subscribe to Beyond Leading for new episodes — wherever you listen.

    12 min

  7. FEB 26

    Ep 10 - What’s Really Running Your Mind Under Pressure? The Inner Game of Leadership and Positive Intelligence (PQ)

    with Alec Pearson, Tiffany David and Graham Da Costa. When pressure hits, most of us think we’re responding logically. But often, something else is running the show. In this episode Alec is joined for the first time by R Tiffany David and Graham Da Costa to explore what happens internally when stress builds, decisions feel heavier, and that familiar inner voice starts to comment on everything we do. Using the framework of Positive Intelligence (PQ), the conversation looks beneath behaviour and performance to the inner patterns that shape how leaders think, react and show up - especially in demanding moments. Rather than treating PQ as a label or a trend, this episode explores it as a practical lens for understanding self-sabotage, emotional reactions and the quieter choices available to us under pressure. In this conversation, we discuss: What really happens in our minds when stress takes overThe inner voices that undermine confidence, focus and judgementWhy good intentions don’t always translate into good outcomesHow awareness creates choice — even in difficult momentsThe link between mental fitness, leadership presence and trustWhy this inner work matters for teams, relationships and wellbeing This episode isn’t about positive thinking or fixing yourself. It’s about understanding what’s driving your reactions and how leaders can respond with more clarity, calm and intention when it matters most. Follow Beyond Leading on LinkedIn for episode clips and updates: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beyond-leading-podcast Follow/subscribe to Beyond Leading for new episodes — wherever you listen.

    43 min

  8. FEB 12

    Ep 9 - Relevance, Resistance - What Standing Still Really Costs

    with Alec Pearson, Tiffany Barnard and Nick Sellers. Relevance is a question many people don’t ask until something shifts. A role changes. Technology accelerates. Expectations move, quietly at first, and suddenly what once felt solid doesn’t anymore. In this episode Alec, Nick and Tiffany have a candid conversation about relevance, not as a buzzword, but as a lived experience in today’s workplace and beyond. Rather than focusing on age or technology alone, the discussion explores what sits underneath: awareness, resistance, communication and the choices we make, or avoid, as the world around us changes. In this conversation, we explore: What relevance really means and who gets to define itWhy age is often blamed, and what might actually be going onHow communication shapes connection across generationsThe quiet impact of comfort, resistance and standing stillWhy self-awareness keeps resurfacing in leadership conversationsWhat gets missed when reflection and boundaries slip This episode isn’t about keeping up with everything. It’s about noticing what’s changing - in the world, in work, and in ourselves - and deciding how we want to respond. Follow Beyond Leading on LinkedIn for episode clips and updates: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beyond-leading-podcast Follow/subscribe to Beyond Leading for new episodes - wherever you listen.

    31 min
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About

Welcome to Beyond Leading — the podcast that cuts through the noise to get real about leadership, team dynamics, personal growth, and the messy, brilliant reality of work, life, and everything in between. We’re your hosts, Alec Pearson, Tiffany Barnard and Nick Sellers — practitioners who’ve led teams, navigated pressure, and now coach leaders at every level. We’re here for honest conversations about what it really takes to lead well in today’s world. This isn’t another podcast full of jargon and glossy success stories. We share grounded insights from decades of real experience — the kind learned in the trenches, not in theory — along with practical strategies that genuinely stick. And one thing we’re clear on: we don’t claim to have all the answers. Every leader, every team, every situation is different. What we want to do is spark ideas, open new ways of thinking, and give you space to reflect on what will work in your world. If an episode helps you see a familiar challenge differently, we’ve done our job. Every fortnight, we dive into the challenges ambitious leaders and teams are facing right now — from building trust and navigating tough CEO dilemmas to handling soft burnout, staying relevant, or simply keeping pace when everything feels like too much. You’ll hear personal reflections, plenty of laughs, some sharp truths, and inspiring guests who’ve lived it, led through it, and grown because of it. If you're a leader, a team player, a business owner, or someone who wants to show up better and move forward with more purpose, this podcast is your space. Subscribe and join us every two weeks for conversations that challenge the status quo, spark real growth, and help you lead beyond the title. To download a factsheet for any of our episodes please visit: https://beyond-leading.captivate.fm/episodefactsheet 🎙 Let’s go beyond leading — and everything in between.

Information

  • Creator
    Beyond Leading
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    17
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Beyond Leading
  • Show Website
    Beyond Leading