Evoke Greatness Podcast

Sonnie Linebarger
  • 4.9 (72)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Do you have an insatiable hunger for growth, knowledge, and elevating how you show up in business and in life? Are you curious how high-performing leaders think, operate, and navigate the real challenges that come with building, scaling, and leading? I’m Sonnie Linebarger, CEO and host of Evoke Greatness… a top 2% globally ranked business and leadership podcast fueled by curiosity, performance, and a deep fascination with the psychology behind great leadership. I’m a book nerd, a bit of a control enthusiast, and someone who believes that success is built as much internally as it is externally. On this podcast, we go beyond strategy. We explore the real conversations behind leadership, the decisions, the pressure, the growth, and the personal development required to execute at the highest level. We share the highs and lows and everything in between… because building something meaningful will stretch you in ways nothing else can. My hope is that something you hear resonates deeply, challenges how you think, and reminds you that you’re not in this alone. I believe that a rising tide raises all ships and I invite you along in this journey to Evoke Greatness!

  1. 54M AGO

    Dominance vs. Prestige, Human Skills, and the Science of Leadership Influence | Dr. Benjamin Granger (Pt. 2)

    Send us Fan Mail 🎧 Episode 209: Dominance vs. Prestige, Human Skills, and the Science of Leadership Influence | Dr. Benjamin Granger (Pt. 2) 📝 Show Notes What does evolutionary biology have to do with your leadership style? More than you think. In Part 2 of this conversation, Sonnie and Dr. Benjamin Granger go deeper into the science of leadership, from the two paths humans use to gain social status, to why your physical environment shapes behavior in ways you never see coming. Benjamin unpacks the difference between dominance and prestige as competing leadership strategies, and makes a compelling case for why prestige-based leadership is not just the ethical choice, it is the most effective one for navigating the future of work. They explore why humans are far more susceptible to their environments than they want to believe, why negative feedback is actually a sign of a healthy team, and what science says about the direct and indirect ways leaders shape behavior every single day. One concept from this episode will stop you cold: choice architecture. Every leader is designing the decision environment around their team whether they know it or not. The question is whether they are doing it intentionally. Benjamin closes with a final piece of wisdom from Stephen Hawking that will stay with you long after the episode ends. 🔍 In This Episode We Cover: The two evolutionary paths to social status and what they reveal about your leadership styleWhy dominance-based leadership is still alive in modern organizations and what it costsHow environments shape behavior gradually, and why no leader is immuneWhy negative feedback from your team is actually good newsThe body language habits that silently signal whether people feel heardWhy human skills and metacognitive skills are the most critical leadership capabilities in the age of AIWhat choice architecture means and how every leader is using it whether they realize it or notWhy the physical environment of your workplace sends a message louder than your values statement🔑 Key Takeaways: Leaders who earn followership through prestige outperform those who rely on dominance, especially in times of uncertainty and changeNo one is immune to their environment. The most self-aware leaders ask: is this environment healthy for me?Negative feedback means your team trusts you. Silence should concern you far moreHard skills are being commoditized. The ability to learn, adapt, and lead through ambiguity is what differentiates the best leaders nowEvery policy, artifact, and physical space in your organization is a form of leadership communicationMankind's greA rising tide raises all ships, and I invite you along on this journey to Evoke Greatness! On a health journey too? Join me as I navigate Hashimoto's and Perimenopause like a BEAST 🔥 Rho Discount Code: https://rhonutrition.com/SONNIE15 Meraki Discount Code: http://www.merakimedicinal.com/EVOKEGREATNESS Check out my website: www.evokegreatness.com Follow me on: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonnie-linebarger-899b9a52/ https://www.instagram.com/evoke.greatness/ https://www.tiktok.com/@evoke.greatness http://www.youtube.com/@evokegreatness

    40 min

  2. APR 21

    Becoming a Leader Worth Following | Dr. Benjamin Granger (Part 1)

    Send us Fan Mail 🎧 Episode 208: Becoming a Leader Worth Following | Dr. Benjamin Granger (Part 1) 📝 Show Notes What separates a leader people genuinely want to follow from one they simply tolerate? In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, Sonnie sits down with Dr. Benjamin Granger, organizational psychologist and author of A Leader Worth Following, to explore the human side of leadership that most managers never learn in a training room. Benjamin traces how a lifelong curiosity about human behavior led him into organizational psychology, and why that same curiosity is the single most underrated skill in any leader's toolkit. Together, they unpack how leaders shape organizational culture every single day, not through big speeches or annual reviews, but through presence, communication style, and the micro-environments they create in every meeting, conversation, and decision. From meeting dynamics to psychological safety in the workplace, this episode breaks down why talented team members stay silent, and what high-performing leaders do differently to unlock trust, contribution, and better collective thinking. The core insight of this episode: leadership effectiveness isn't about being the loudest voice in the room. It's about creating the conditions for others to use theirs. 🔍 In This Episode We Cover: What organizational psychology reveals about effective leadershipWhy employees stay silent in meetings and what it signals about cultureHow leadership behaviors shape team culture in everyday interactionsHow to build psychological safety on your team and why it drives performanceThe power of asking better leadership questionsWhy nonverbal communication and body language often speak louder than words🔑 Key Takeaways: Curiosity is one of the most critical and most overlooked leadership skillsLeaders influence organizational culture through daily micro-interactions, not just big momentsSilence in team meetings is almost always a leadership signal, not an employee problemThe best leaders ask intentional questions, then actually listen to the answersPsychological safety in the workplace is a performance driver, not a soft skillNonverbal cues shape how your message lands, often more than the words themselves🔗 Connect with Dr. Benjamin Granger: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-granger-7147991b/Website: https://benjamingranger.com/Book: A Leader Worth FollowingA rising tide raises all ships, and I invite you along on this journey to Evoke Greatness! On a health journey too? Join me as I navigate Hashimoto's and Perimenopause like a BEAST 🔥 Rho Discount Code: https://rhonutrition.com/SONNIE15 Meraki Discount Code: http://www.merakimedicinal.com/EVOKEGREATNESS Check out my website: www.evokegreatness.com Follow me on: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonnie-linebarger-899b9a52/ https://www.instagram.com/evoke.greatness/ https://www.tiktok.com/@evoke.greatness http://www.youtube.com/@evokegreatness

    28 min

  3. APR 14

    How to Find Your Voice at Work and Stop Playing Small, with Minda Harts (Part 2)

    Send us Fan Mail 🎧 Episode 207: How to Find Your Voice at Work and Stop Playing Small, with Minda Harts (Part 2) What is staying quiet at work actually costing you? Not just the missed moment… But the opportunity, the growth, the confidence, and the standard you’re setting for what you’re willing to tolerate. In Part 1 of this conversation, I sit down with Minda Harts to unpack the hidden cost of silence… and why so many high-performing leaders find themselves navigating environments where speaking up feels risky. From early career experiences of inequity and internal conflict… to the realization that silence carries a cost just as real as speaking up… this conversation will challenge how you think about your voice, your agency, and your responsibility in the rooms you’re in. Because staying quiet doesn’t keep things neutral… it shapes everything. We explore: The real cost of staying silent at work and how it impacts your career growth, confidence, and leadership presenceHow to speak up with confidence in high-stakes workplace conversations without damaging relationships or credibilityWhy trust issues at work are often communication breakdowns and how unmet expectations quietly erode performance and cultureThe power of self-advocacy and personal agency in leadership, especially for women navigating visibility, influence, and growthHow using your voice creates permission for others, shaping team culture, trust, and psychological safety🔑 Key takeaways: Staying quiet doesn’t protect you… it positions you exactly where you areThe conversations you avoid are often the ones that unlock your next levelTrust is built or broken in the smallest moments… not the biggest onesYou don’t need permission to advocate for yourself… but you do need courageEvery time you stay silent, you reinforce the standard you’re willing to acceptQuotes to remember: “If I don’t say anything, that’s a cost. If I do say something, that’s a cost too.”“My voice is tied to someone else’s freedom.”“We have more power than we think we do.”“Silence doesn’t keep things neutral… it shapes everything.”“The standard you accept becomes the culture you experience.”🔗 Connect with Minda: Website: www.mindaharts.comInstagram: www.instagram.com/mindahartsLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mindaharts/A rising tide raises all ships, and I invite you along on this journey to Evoke Greatness! On a health journey too? Join me as I navigate Hashimoto's and Perimenopause like a BEAST 🔥 Rho Discount Code: https://rhonutrition.com/SONNIE15 Meraki Discount Code: http://www.merakimedicinal.com/EVOKEGREATNESS Check out my website: www.evokegreatness.com Follow me on: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonnie-linebarger-899b9a52/ https://www.instagram.com/evoke.greatness/ https://www.tiktok.com/@evoke.greatness http://www.youtube.com/@evokegreatness

    24 min

  4. APR 7

    Why Speaking Up at Work Is Harder for Some Leaders, with Minda Harts (Part 1)

    Send us Fan Mail 🎧 Episode 206: Why Speaking Up at Work Is Harder for Some Leaders, with Minda Harts Part 1 What is staying quiet at work actually costing you? Not just the missed moment…  But the opportunity, the growth, the confidence, and the standard you’re setting for what you’re willing to tolerate. In Part 1 of this conversation, I sit down with Minda Harts, Author of Talk to Me Nice: The Seven Trust Languages for a Better Workplace, to unpack the hidden cost of silence, and why so many high-performing leaders find themselves navigating environments where speaking up feels risky. From early career experiences of inequity and internal conflict, to the realization that silence carries a cost just as real as speaking up, this conversation will challenge how you think about your voice, your agency, and your responsibility in the rooms you’re in. Because staying quiet doesn’t keep things neutral… it shapes everything. We explore: The real cost of staying silent at work and how it impacts your career growth, confidence, and leadership presence How to speak up with confidence in high-stakes workplace conversations without damaging relationships or credibilityWhy trust issues at work are often communication breakdowns and how unmet expectations quietly erode performance and culture The power of self-advocacy and personal agency in leadership, especially for women navigating visibility, influence, and growthHow using your voice creates permission for others, shaping team culture, trust, and psychological safety 🔑 Key takeaways: Staying quiet doesn’t protect you… it positions you exactly where you areThe conversations you avoid are often the ones that unlock your next levelTrust is built or broken in the smallest moments… not the biggest onesYou don’t need permission to advocate for yourself… but you do need courageEvery time you stay silent, you reinforce the standard you’re willing to acceptQuotes to remember: “If I don’t say anything, that’s a cost. If I do say something, that’s a cost too.” “My voice is tied to someone else’s freedom.” “We have more power than we think we do.” “Silence doesn’t keep things neutral… it shapes everything.”“The standard you accept becomes the culture you experience.”🔗 Connect with Minda: Website: www.mindaharts.comInstagram: www.instagram.com/mindahartsLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mindaharts/A rising tide raises all ships, and I invite you along on this journey to Evoke Greatness! On a health journey too? Join me as I navigate Hashimoto's and Perimenopause like a BEAST 🔥 Rho Discount Code: https://rhonutrition.com/SONNIE15 Meraki Discount Code: http://www.merakimedicinal.com/EVOKEGREATNESS Check out my website: www.evokegreatness.com Follow me on: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonnie-linebarger-899b9a52/ https://www.instagram.com/evoke.greatness/ https://www.tiktok.com/@evoke.greatness http://www.youtube.com/@evokegreatness

    25 min

  5. MAR 31

    The Leadership Trap Nobody Warns You About (and How to Break Out of It) | Sonnie Linebarger

    Send us Fan Mail 🎧 Ep. 205  The Leadership Trap Nobody Warns You About (and How to Break Out of It)  | Sonnie Linebarger Are you feeling stuck at your current level in business or leadership… even though you’re working harder than ever? In this episode, we break down leadership growth, decision-making, and the psychology behind why high performers plateau, and what it actually takes to reach the next level. 🔥 EPISODE OVERVIEW In this episode of Evoke Greatness, Sonnie Linebarger dives into one of the most overlooked truths in business and leadership… what made you successful early on may be the very thing holding you back today. This episode goes beyond surface-level strategy and into the real work of leadership… the decisions you’re avoiding, the habits that no longer serve you, and the psychology that shapes how you show up under pressure. If you’re building, leading, and carrying the weight of real decisions, this conversation will challenge how you think, lead, and execute. 💡 WHAT YOU’LL LEARN Why leadership growth requires letting go, not just doing moreHow decision fatigue and cognitive load impact leadership performanceThe psychology behind avoidance and delayed decision-makingWhy what you tolerate becomes your culture in business and leadershipHow to shift from operator to CEO-level thinking and ownershipThe leadership habits that become bottlenecks as you scale🧠 KEY INSIGHT You don’t rise to the level of your goals… you fall to the level of your conditioning. 🔑 POWERFUL MOMENTS / QUOTES “What gets you here won’t keep you here.”“Growth is not just about adding more… it’s about letting go of what no longer serves you.”“Your business will only grow as much as you do.”“What you tolerate becomes your culture.”“You become a CEO the moment you take full ownership.”🎯 YOUR CHALLENGE What is the one decision you already know you need to make? Not five things. Not a full overhaul. One. Act on it within the next 24 hours. 👤 WHO THIS EPISODE IS FOR CEOs, founders, and executives navigating growth and leadership pressureLeaders experiencing decision fatigue or feeling stuck at the next levelHigh performers ready to elevate their mindset, execution, and resultsAnyone serious about taking ownership of their business, career, or life🚀 FINAL THOUGHT Better business doesn’t come from more strategy… It comes from becoming the leader your next level requires. 🔎 KEYWORDS Leadership development, executive leadership, business leadership, leadership mindse A rising tide raises all ships, and I invite you along on this journey to Evoke Greatness! On a health journey too? Join me as I navigate Hashimoto's and Perimenopause like a BEAST 🔥 Rho Discount Code: https://rhonutrition.com/SONNIE15 Meraki Discount Code: http://www.merakimedicinal.com/EVOKEGREATNESS Check out my website: www.evokegreatness.com Follow me on: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonnie-linebarger-899b9a52/ https://www.instagram.com/evoke.greatness/ https://www.tiktok.com/@evoke.greatness http://www.youtube.com/@evokegreatness

    14 min

  6. MAR 24

    How to Build Unshakeable Credibility as a Leader, with Heather Hansen Part 2

    Send us Fan Mail 🎧 Episode 204: How to Build Unshakeable Credibility as a Leader, with Heather Hansen Part 2 In Part 2 of this powerful conversation, Sonnie continues her discussion with Heather Hansen, credibility expert, leadership strategist, and author of The Elegant Warrior: How To Win Life's Trials Without Losing Yourself. After unpacking the foundations of credibility in Part 1, this episode explores how those principles play out in the real world…especially when leaders are navigating conflict, uncertainty, and pressure. Heather explains why our nervous system often hijacks our communication in difficult conversations and shares practical techniques leaders can use to stay grounded and respond thoughtfully instead of reacting emotionally. New Episode 392026, 102513 PM The conversation also explores how credibility has evolved in the digital era, why influence on social media doesn’t always equal expertise, and how leaders can communicate with authenticity in a world full of curated highlight reels. New Episode 392026, 102513 PM Heather also offers powerful insights for women navigating executive leadership, explaining why belief, evidence, and inner confidence shape the way others perceive authority and presence. New Episode 392026, 102513 PM This episode is filled with practical leadership wisdom for anyone who wants to communicate with conviction, build trust that lasts, and lead with credibility in moments that matter most. Key Takeaways from This Episode ✨ Your nervous system influences your leadership. In tense moments, leaders often fall into fight, flight, freeze, or fawn responses unless they intentionally calm their nervous system. New Episode 392026, 102513 PM ✨ Three simple ways to ground yourself in conflict. Heather shares three techniques leaders can use to regain control during difficult conversations: • Breathing patterns that calm the nervous system • Adjusting body posture • Simple physical grounding techniques like hand pressure holds. New Episode 392026, 102513 PM ✨ Influence on social media doesn’t always equal credibility. People often trust voices that understand their pain, even if those voices lack expertise…which creates both opportunity and risk in the digital age. New Episode 392026, 102513 PM ✨ Stories need evidence to be credible. Persuasive storytelling must be supported by facts and evidence, or trust begins to erode. New Episode 392026, 102513 PM ✨ Confidence begins with belief. Your tone of voice reflects your internal beliefs, which means executive presence begins with building genuine belief in yourself and your preparation. New Episode 392026, 102513 PM ✨ Collect evidence tha A rising tide raises all ships, and I invite you along on this journey to Evoke Greatness! On a health journey too? Join me as I navigate Hashimoto's and Perimenopause like a BEAST 🔥 Rho Discount Code: https://rhonutrition.com/SONNIE15 Meraki Discount Code: http://www.merakimedicinal.com/EVOKEGREATNESS Check out my website: www.evokegreatness.com Follow me on: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonnie-linebarger-899b9a52/ https://www.instagram.com/evoke.greatness/ https://www.tiktok.com/@evoke.greatness http://www.youtube.com/@evokegreatness

    27 min

  7. MAR 10

    Why Credibility Beats Charisma Every Time, with Heather Hansen Part 1

    Send us Fan Mail 🎧 Episode 203:  Why Credibility Beats Charisma Every Time, with Heather Hansen Part 1 Welcome back to Evoke Greatness, the podcast for bold leaders and big dreamers who refuse to settle. In this thought-provoking conversation, Sonnie sits down with Heather Hansen, a former trial lawyer turned internationally recognized speaker, credibility expert, and author of The Elegant Warrior: How To Win Life's Trials Without Losing Yourself. Heather spent decades in courtrooms where persuasion isn't about being flashy or charismatic…it's about being believed. Through years of watching juries decide whose story they trust, she discovered a truth that applies far beyond the courtroom: Credibility is the foundation of influence. Together, Sonnie and Heather unpack how leaders unknowingly weaken their credibility, why credentials alone don’t earn trust, and how curiosity, listening, and empathy shape the way others perceive our leadership. Heather also introduces the Belief Triangle, a powerful framework for understanding how trust is built…or broken…in leadership, communication, and conflict. This conversation is packed with insights for anyone who wants to lead with authenticity, influence without force, and communicate in a way that truly resonates. Key Takeaways from This Episode ✨ Credibility beats charisma. Charisma may capture attention, but credibility is what makes people believe you and follow your lead. ✨ Credentials are not the same as credibility. Degrees, titles, and experience matter…but the most important factor is whether people believe you can actually help them. ✨ The Belief Triangle drives trust. For someone to see you as credible, they must: • Believe in you • Believe you • Believe you can help them ✨ Power can quietly erode empathy. Research shows that as leaders gain power, they can lose the cognitive empathy needed to see things from others’ perspectives. ✨ Curiosity is a leadership superpower. Leaders who ask questions and genuinely seek understanding uncover insights others miss. ✨ Listening creates influence. The most powerful leaders don’t dominate conversations…they create space to understand the people they lead. About Heather Hansen Heather Hansen is a former trial lawyer, keynote speaker, credibility expert, and the author of The Elegant Warrior: How To Win Life's Trials Without Losing Yourself. Through her company Belief Builders, Heather teaches leaders how to communicate with credibility, compassion, and clarity so they can influence outcomes and build lasting trust. 🔗 Learn more: A rising tide raises all ships, and I invite you along on this journey to Evoke Greatness! On a health journey too? Join me as I navigate Hashimoto's and Perimenopause like a BEAST 🔥 Rho Discount Code: https://rhonutrition.com/SONNIE15 Meraki Discount Code: http://www.merakimedicinal.com/EVOKEGREATNESS Check out my website: www.evokegreatness.com Follow me on: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonnie-linebarger-899b9a52/ https://www.instagram.com/evoke.greatness/ https://www.tiktok.com/@evoke.greatness http://www.youtube.com/@evokegreatness

    30 min

  8. MAR 3

    How to Rewire Your Mindset and Lead with Full Permission, with Tricia Stover Part 2

    Send us Fan Mail 🎧 Ep. 202  How to Rewire Your Mindset and Lead with Full Permission, with Tricia Stover Part 2 In Part 2 of this candid and practical conversation, leadership and mindset expert Tricia Stover moves from inspiration to execution. We unpack what really separates managers from leaders… why business growth will always mirror personal growth… and how ego quietly erodes trust, culture, and retention. This is not surface-level motivation. This is the deep work. If you’ve ever wondered why your business feels chaotic… why your team isn’t fully bought in… or why success still feels heavy instead of freeing… this episode will challenge you to look inward first. Because as Tricia says, if you want to grow your business, you first need to work on yourself.  We explore: Why business stages are predictable… and so are the failuresThe misconception of overnight successHow personal growth and professional growth run in parallelWhy leaders struggle to slow down long enough to examine how they’re thinkingThe difference between leadership and managementWhy mindset is not just positive thinking… it’s ownershipConfidence vs. clarity… and where ego sneaks inSubtle signs you’re leading from ego or fearWhy “directive” leadership erodes trustHow clarity removes chaos and creates momentumBreaking destructive patterns before they cost you your teamWhy defining your values is the ultimate starting point🔑 Key Takeaways: Your business will only grow as much as you doChaos often signals misalignment, not incompetenceEgo blocks trust… and trust drives performanceLeadership requires empathy without depletionMost retention problems are leadership problemsClarity reduces overwhelm and accelerates executionValues are the foundation of fulfillment and succession💡 Quotes to Remember: “In the failure is where I found I have refined myself… and I embrace it.”  “When your business is failing, it’s probably because you have not been working on yourself.”  “You have to go in there with big ears.”  “Your personal growth goes right alongside your professional growth.”  📚 Resources Mentioned: ✨ Learn more about Tricia and Performance Masters: https://performance-masters.com/ 📲 Connect with Tricia:  LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/tricia-stover-bfa/ A rising tide raises all ships, and I invite you along on this journey to Evoke Greatness! On a health journey too? Join me as I navigate Hashimoto's and Perimenopause like a BEAST 🔥 Rho Discount Code: https://rhonutrition.com/SONNIE15 Meraki Discount Code: http://www.merakimedicinal.com/EVOKEGREATNESS Check out my website: www.evokegreatness.com Follow me on: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonnie-linebarger-899b9a52/ https://www.instagram.com/evoke.greatness/ https://www.tiktok.com/@evoke.greatness http://www.youtube.com/@evokegreatness

    28 min
See All (209)

4.9
out of 5
72 Ratings

About

Do you have an insatiable hunger for growth, knowledge, and elevating how you show up in business and in life? Are you curious how high-performing leaders think, operate, and navigate the real challenges that come with building, scaling, and leading? I’m Sonnie Linebarger, CEO and host of Evoke Greatness… a top 2% globally ranked business and leadership podcast fueled by curiosity, performance, and a deep fascination with the psychology behind great leadership. I’m a book nerd, a bit of a control enthusiast, and someone who believes that success is built as much internally as it is externally. On this podcast, we go beyond strategy. We explore the real conversations behind leadership, the decisions, the pressure, the growth, and the personal development required to execute at the highest level. We share the highs and lows and everything in between… because building something meaningful will stretch you in ways nothing else can. My hope is that something you hear resonates deeply, challenges how you think, and reminds you that you’re not in this alone. I believe that a rising tide raises all ships and I invite you along in this journey to Evoke Greatness!

Information

  • Creator
    Sonnie Linebarger
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    209
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Evoke Greatness Podcast
  • Show Website
    Evoke Greatness Podcast

You Might Also Like