The Self-Leadership Lab

Bobby Shelton
  • 5.0 (21)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Semiweekly

The Self-Leadership Lab is where purpose, discipline, and personal mastery get broken down, tested, and rebuilt. Hosted by author and coach Bobby Shelton, this podcast explores the real work of leading yourself before you lead anyone else. Each episode dives into the practices, psychology, and “inner lab work” behind self-awareness, self-discipline, and meaningful growth. If you’re ready to trade performative busyness for intentional living and choose the kind of work that truly shapes you, this is your place. Welcome to The Self-Leadership Lab.

  1. 18h ago

    Dr. Mark Smith | Why Great Leaders Need Honest Mirrors

    How well do you really know yourself? More importantly… How do other people experience you? This week on The Self-Leadership Lab, Bobby Shelton welcomes organizational psychologist Dr. Mark Smith for a fascinating conversation about leadership assessments, hiring, organizational culture, and the hidden blind spots that limit our growth. Drawing on decades of experience assessing leaders, Dr. Smith explains why leadership development isn't about changing your personality—it's about understanding how your behaviors impact the people around you. In this episode you'll learn: • Why companies should hire for skills instead of credentials • The difference between evaluating and understanding people • How role-play assessments reveal authentic leadership • Why personality tests often miss the bigger picture • How 360-degree feedback can transform your leadership • Why organizational culture begins with the people inside it Whether you're leading a team, hiring your next employee, or simply trying to become a better version of yourself, this conversation offers practical insights into seeing yourself more clearly. About Mark Mark Smith is an organizational psychologist, management consultant, and author who has spent more than 20 years helping organizations make better hiring and leadership decisions. He has personally assessed more than 1,000 leaders and candidates across a wide range of industries, with particular expertise in construction, engineering, and other technical fields. Connect with Mark Website: https://www.abetterchoicehire.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-smith-ph-d-1776201a8 Email: abetterchoicehire@gmail.com Book: https://www.amazon.com/Better-Choice-Managers-Skills-First-Hiring-ebook/dp/B0CW1JHGX5 Connect with Bobby YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbAUhnH37eodhRKlVu7B--g Instagram: @theselfleadershiplab LinkedIn: ⁠https://linkedin.com/in/dr-bobby-shelton-dsl-pmp-acc-124502b⁠ Podcast: The Self-Leadership Lab (Available on Apple, YouTube, or Spotify) Website: ⁠www.battlecatcoaching.com⁠ Book: ⁠https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FT68RCB1⁠ Substack: https://bobbyshelton.substack.com/

    Dr. Mark Smith | Why Great Leaders Need Honest Mirrors

  2. 3d ago

    Tyler Moon | Turning Your Greatest Adversity into Your Greatest Opportunity

    What if the hardest moment of your life became the very thing that gave your life greater purpose? This week on The Self-Leadership Lab, Bobby sits down with Tyler Moon, a sudden cardiac arrest survivor, speaker, and author, to discuss one remarkable question: What do you do after life gives you a second chance? At just 25 years old, Tyler collapsed during the Twin Cities 10-Mile Race and received CPR from complete strangers before being rushed to the hospital. What followed wasn't just a story of survival—it became a story of resilience, faith, community, and choosing purpose over fear. Together, Bobby and Tyler explore: • Why adversity doesn't automatically make us stronger • How resilience is intentionally developed • The importance of surrounding yourself with community • Why putting yourself in difficult situations can prepare you for life's biggest challenges • The role faith played throughout Tyler's recovery • What leadership looks like in seasons of uncertainty Tyler Moon, a sudden cardiac arrest survivor, has a powerful mission: to empower others to turn their biggest adversities into their greatest opportunities. His miraculous journey, from "Flatline to Finish Line," has been featured in major media outlets like Runner's World, Today.com, Fox News, and National Public Radio. This passion is central to his work as president of Living Proof Leadership. Tyler lives in the Minneapolis area with his family and works in logistics at General Mills. • LivingProofLeadership.com • https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-moon-39444aa3

    Tyler Moon | Turning Your Greatest Adversity into Your Greatest Opportunity

  3. Jul 31

    Mark Divine | Self-Leadership, Purpose, and the Courage to Live Your Own Life

    What if the biggest battle you'll ever fight isn't on a battlefield—but within yourself? This week on The Self-Leadership Lab, Bobby Shelton welcomes retired Navy SEAL Commander, bestselling author, and leadership expert Mark Divine for a conversation that goes far beyond resilience and performance. Mark shares the unlikely path that led him from Wall Street to the Navy SEALs, how meditation reshaped his understanding of leadership, and why many of us spend our lives following a script we never consciously chose. Together they explore identity, purpose, fear, suffering, visualization, spiritual growth, and what it truly means to govern your inner world before leading others. You'll learn: • Why success alone never satisfies • The power of asking, "Who am I?" • How visualization can shape your future • Why discomfort is necessary for growth • The relationship between self-awareness and leadership • How to pursue freedom instead of simply achievement If you've ever felt successful on the outside but unsettled on the inside, this episode is for you. About Mark Mark Divine, Ph.D., is a retired Navy SEAL Commander, leadership expert, entrepreneur, and founder of SEALFIT and Unbeatable Mind. A graduate of Colgate University with an MBA from NYU Stern and a Ph.D. in Global Leadership and Change from Pepperdine University, Mark has spent decades studying and teaching the principles of mental toughness, resilience, leadership, and human performance. Through his books, training programs, and speaking engagements, he has helped thousands of leaders develop the skills to thrive under pressure and lead with greater clarity, purpose, and courage. • Website: https://markdivine.com • Unbeatable Mind: https://unbeatablemind.com • The Mark Divine Show: https://markdivine.com/podcast • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markdivine • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markdivineofficial Connect with Bobby • Newsletter: https://bobbyshelton.substack.com/ • LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/drbobbyshelton

    Mark Divine | Self-Leadership, Purpose, and the Courage to Live Your Own Life

  4. Jul 28

    Why Successful Leaders Dread Monday Mornings | Ed Potoczak

    Why do so many leaders spend Sunday evening worrying about Monday morning? According to leadership consultant Ed Potoczak, the answer usually isn't the workload. It's the people dynamics underneath it. In this episode of The Self-Leadership Lab, Ed shares why so many organizations struggle with misaligned teams, unclear communication, and cultures where people don't feel seen, valued, or respected. Drawing from decades of experience leading technology implementations and coaching manufacturing executives, he explains why leadership problems are often people problems first. Together we explore Ed's practical three-part leadership framework built around Clarity, Trust, and Respect, and discuss how understanding communication styles, appreciation, and generational differences can transform both leaders and organizations. If you've ever dreaded Sunday night, or you've led people who do, this conversation offers practical ideas you can begin using immediately. In this episode • Why leaders dread Sunday evenings • The hidden cost of misalignment • Why people leave managers and not companies • The three pillars: Clarity, Trust & Respect • Understanding communication styles • Generational differences at work • Leadership and emotional safety • How to create healthier workplace cultures • Why appreciation matters more than many leaders realize • Using AI without losing people • Moving from management to leadership About Ed Potoczak Ed Potoczak is the founder of Oakstone Group. His approach is built on a foundation of Christian faith and a belief that all employees and colleagues deserve to be known, valued, and respected. For the past 10 years, Ed has helped executives and project leaders build teams marked by clarity, trust, and respect drawing on 20 years in industry and 25 years leading or supporting over 75 technology implementations. He blends his unique DISC behavioral insights with principles of genuine appreciation and an understanding of generational differences to help leaders reduce stress, lead with genuine care for those they work with, and enjoy greater influence in their organizations. Connect with Ed Website: www.OakstoneGroup.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/performanceoptimization/ Connect with Bobby Newsletter: https://bobbyshelton.substack.com/ LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/drbobbyshelton

    Why Successful Leaders Dread Monday Mornings | Ed Potoczak

  5. Jul 24

    The Coherence Effect: From Stress and Burnout to Wholeness | Dr. Mickra Hamilton

    What if stress, burnout, poor health, and disconnection aren't separate problems? What if they're signals that something deeper has fallen out of alignment? In this episode of The Self-Leadership Lab, I sit down with Dr. Mickra Hamilton, author of The Coherence Effect, to explore what it means to bring our minds, bodies, relationships, values, and actions back into coherence. Mickra spent 30 years serving in the U.S. Air Force while also building a successful professional life. But beneath the achievement was a relentless drive to keep doing more. When a major health challenge forced her into stillness, she began asking questions she hadn't previously allowed herself the time to consider. Who am I? Why am I here? What really matters? That experience began a journey that fundamentally changed the way she understood human health and performance. In our conversation, we explore why high achievers often struggle with stillness, how breath can help regulate the nervous system, why sleep and nature are essential to well-being, and why self-love may be one of the most important starting points for meaningful change. We also talk about community, alignment, listening to our bodies, and learning to see ourselves not as a collection of individual problems to solve, but as whole human beings. In this episode: • Understanding The Coherence Effect • Stress, burnout, and high achievement • The importance of stillness • Breath and nervous-system regulation • Reconnecting with nature • Sleep and circadian rhythms • Self-love and personal transformation • Mind, body, and spiritual alignment • Community and connection • Living according to your values • Moving from doing to being • Creating lasting change through simple practices Perhaps most importantly, Mickra leaves us with a question worth sitting with: What if everything I think I know isn't quite the way I think it is? Sometimes transformation begins not with another answer, but with becoming willing to ask a different question. Connect with Mickra Website: https://www.drmickrahamilton.com/ Book: The Coherence Effect, https://thecoherenceeffect.com/ Connect with Bobby Newsletter: bobbyshelton.substack.com LinkedIn: Dr. Bobby Shelton on LinkedIn

    The Coherence Effect: From Stress and Burnout to Wholeness | Dr. Mickra Hamilton

  6. Jul 21

    The Maverick Leader: How to Lead Under Pressure | Judith Germain

    What separates truly exceptional leaders from everyone else? According to leadership consultant and author Judith Germain, it's not charisma, confidence, or authority. It's the courage to think differently while remaining committed to the good of others. In this episode of The Self-Leadership Lab, Bobby sits down with Judith, author of The Maverick Paradox, to explore why the best leaders challenge conventional thinking, embrace constructive tension, and know how to lead effectively when everything around them feels uncertain. Judith introduces her Human Leadership System, a practical framework built around five leadership anchors that help leaders respond rather than react under pressure. Together they discuss authority, ownership, alignment, standards, capacity, and what it really means to become a "socialized maverick"; someone who influences for the benefit of everyone, not just themselves. Whether you're leading a business, a team, your family, or simply yourself, this conversation will challenge the way you think about leadership. In This Episode What is a Maverick Leader? Socialized vs. Extreme Mavericks Why leadership starts with intention The Human Leadership System The five leadership anchors Why organizations struggle under pressure Responding instead of reacting Ownership vs. accountability Holding standards without burning people out How to create healthier organizational cultures About Judith Germain Judith Germain is an executive leadership consultant, speaker, and author of The Maverick Paradox. She helps organizations develop courageous leaders who think independently, lead authentically, and thrive in complexity. Connect with Judith Website: https://themaverickparadox.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/judithgermain/ Connect with Bobby Newsletter: https://bobbyshelton.substack.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drbobbyshelton

    The Maverick Leader: How to Lead Under Pressure | Judith Germain

  7. Jul 17

    Stop Chasing Balance. Find Harmony Instead. | Roxanne Chaput

    Is work-life balance even possible? According to leadership steward Roxanne Shapiro, the better question is whether we're living in harmony. In this episode of The Self-Leadership Lab, Bobby sits down with Roxanne for a conversation that challenges many of today's assumptions about leadership. Together they explore why self-awareness, emotional intelligence, relationships, and personal harmony shape every decision we make as leaders. Roxanne explains why burnout often begins long before we recognize it, why many leaders unknowingly sacrifice themselves for success, and why true leadership starts with leading yourself well. If you've ever felt like you're succeeding professionally while falling behind personally, this conversation offers a refreshing, and practical, perspective. In This Episode Why balance is an impossible goal Harmony vs. hustle Self-awareness as the foundation of leadership Stewardship versus traditional coaching Emotional intelligence in leadership Why leaders burn themselves out Competition versus collaboration Building healthier organizational cultures The importance of reflection Leading from alignment instead of exhaustion About Roxanne Chaput Roxanne Chaput explores the architecture of leadership, discernment, and the responsibility of influence through a philosophy centered on the Ecology of Intelligences. Her philosophy brings language to the intelligible order entrusted within human existence, cultivating a deeper remembrance of the coherence, discernment, and integrity already entrusted within each of us. Through her writing, speaking, and private advisory conversations, Roxanne explores the patterns, relationships, and intelligible order woven throughout leadership, human existence, and the responsibility of influence, bringing a multidimensional perspective that continues unfolding well beyond the conversation itself. Connect with Roxanne Media and Conference Inquiries: roxanne.chaput@icloud.com Community Inquiries: www.roxanne-chaput.com Connect with Bobby Newsletter: https://bobbyshelton.substack.com/ LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/drbobbyshelton

    Stop Chasing Balance. Find Harmony Instead. | Roxanne Chaput

  8. Jul 14

    Sleep Is the Most Underrated Health Habit | Dr. Benjamin Long

    We spend nearly one-third of our lives asleep, yet many of us sacrifice it in the name of productivity. In this episode of The Self-Leadership Lab, I sit down with sleep medicine physician Dr. Benjamin Long to explore why sleep may be the most overlooked pillar of physical health, mental clarity, emotional resilience, and spiritual well-being. Together we discuss the science behind REM sleep, deep sleep, recovery, wearable technology, sleep tracking, and why so many high achievers ignore one of the greatest performance enhancers available. We also explore a fascinating biblical perspective: What if sleep isn't just a biological necessity—but a gift from God? Whether you're trying to improve your health, sharpen your mind, strengthen your faith, or simply wake up feeling better, this conversation offers practical insights that will change the way you think about sleep. In This Episode • Why sleep is essential for health and performance • Deep sleep vs. REM sleep • Sleep trackers: helpful or harmful? • Can you really "catch up" on sleep? • Why entrepreneurs often neglect sleep • Circadian rhythms explained • The relationship between sleep and mental health • Biblical insights on sleep • Why Scripture calls sleep a gift • Practical habits for better sleep About Dr. Benjamin Long Dr. Benjamin Long is a board-certified sleep medicine physician, pediatrician, and seminary student exploring the intersection of sleep science, theology, and human flourishing. His work helps people better understand both the medical and spiritual dimensions of healthy sleep. Connect with Dr. Benjamin Long Website: https://www.SleepHabitsJournal.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewholeheartedmd/?hl=en Connect with Bobby Newsletter: https://bobbyshelton.substack.com/ LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/drbobbyshelton

    Sleep Is the Most Underrated Health Habit | Dr. Benjamin Long
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About

The Self-Leadership Lab is where purpose, discipline, and personal mastery get broken down, tested, and rebuilt. Hosted by author and coach Bobby Shelton, this podcast explores the real work of leading yourself before you lead anyone else. Each episode dives into the practices, psychology, and “inner lab work” behind self-awareness, self-discipline, and meaningful growth. If you’re ready to trade performative busyness for intentional living and choose the kind of work that truly shapes you, this is your place. Welcome to The Self-Leadership Lab.

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