The Leadership Vision Podcast

Nathan Freeburg, Linda Schubring, Brian Schubring

The Leadership Vision Podcast explores what helps leaders, teams, and organizations navigate complexity and move forward with greater clarity, alignment, resilience, and engagement. Hosted by Nathan Freeburg and featuring conversations with Dr. Linda Schubring, Brian Schubring, and leaders and thinkers from a wide range of fields, each episode looks beneath the surface of leadership to examine the patterns shaping how we work, relate, change, and grow. Drawing from more than 25 years of work with leaders and teams, Leadership Vision brings together insights from positive psychology, applied neuroscience, organizational development, and real-world experience. We explore questions about team culture, relationships, well-being, change, communication, conflict, identity, and what it means to lead well in uncertain environments. We’re interested in better questions, deeper understanding, and practical ideas you can apply to yourself, your team, and the people you lead.

  1. 4d ago

    We Still Use Strengths, But We Start Somewhere Deeper

    Send us Fan Mail We pull back the curtain on why we rebuilt our website and what it reveals about how our leadership consulting has changed as clients face nonstop uncertainty. We explain why strengths still matter but no longer lead the conversation, and we share the CARE framework we use to help leaders find clarity, alignment, resilience, and real engagement.  • why our website changed to match how our clients are transforming  • strengths as a helpful tool rather than the central solution  • the client “entry point” inversion from strengths-first to needs-first  • how we audited our work and turned themes into CARE  • clarity as the first handle when uncertainty feels like fog  • aligning teams around vision, purpose, and shared “dream”  • evergreen talent and building resilience under pressure  • engagement that starts with self-awareness, not external tactics  If you found value in this podcast or any of our other material, we would appreciate it if you would join our free email newsletter, follow us on all the socials, and leave us a review on iTunes or Spotify. It really helps other people find the show.  Support the show - Read the full blog post here! CONTACT US email: connect@leadershipvisionconsulting.comLinkedIn FacebookLeadership Vision OnlineABOUT The Leadership Vision Podcast is a weekly show sharing our expertise in discovering, practicing, and implementing a Strengths-based approach to people, teams, and culture. Contact us to talk to us about helping your team understand the power of Strengths.

  2. Aug 24

    Re-Broadcast: 3 Things Great Leaders Do When They Get Laid Off

    Send us Fan Mail In this rebroadcast from 2023, we revisit a conversation that feels just as relevant today: What do you do when you get laid off? Losing a job—or experiencing an unexpected work transition—can be disorienting, painful, and deeply personal. In this episode, Nathan and Linda explore how leaders can navigate these moments with greater intention. We discuss: Four organizational dynamics that can signal change is comingWhy self-compassion matters after losing a jobThe importance of caring for yourself physically and emotionallyWhy reaching out to your people is about more than networkingHow unexpected transitions can become opportunities for growth and transformationIf you're navigating a career transition—or walking alongside someone who is—this conversation offers a practical reminder: give yourself permission to acknowledge what's hard, care for yourself, and stay connected to the people who know you best. Three practices for navigating a layoff: Practice self-compassionPrioritize self-careReach out to your peopleSupport the show - Read the full blog post here! CONTACT US email: connect@leadershipvisionconsulting.comLinkedIn FacebookLeadership Vision OnlineABOUT The Leadership Vision Podcast is a weekly show sharing our expertise in discovering, practicing, and implementing a Strengths-based approach to people, teams, and culture. Contact us to talk to us about helping your team understand the power of Strengths.

  3. Aug 10

    Re-Broadcast - The One Thing Great Leaders Do Before They Grow: They Let Go

    Send us Fan Mail We're on a summer break of sorts from new episodes of the podcast, but we wanted to re-share some favorites from the past nine seasons of The Leadership Vision Podcast. This was one of my favorites from 2026, as it is a great reminder to all of us that we need to let certain things go if we want to grow. About how sometimes, choosing to look past a difficult situation without any sort of resolution might be the best way to move forward and get closer to the things we really want or need. That's not to say it's easy to do this! Far from it, in fact. But reminding us all that we have a choice in these matters is sometimes all it takes. This lesson comes to us from a parable taken from a children's book that was shared with Dr. Linda and Brian from one of our clients earlier this year. It's a simple story, and an even simpler lesson, but one worth revisiting over and over again. It begins with unlearning—the intentional process of releasing habits, patterns, and ways of thinking that no longer serve you. At its core, this episode is about a simple but challenging idea: great leaders grow by letting go first. Enjoy! Support the show - Read the full blog post here! CONTACT US email: connect@leadershipvisionconsulting.comLinkedIn FacebookLeadership Vision OnlineABOUT The Leadership Vision Podcast is a weekly show sharing our expertise in discovering, practicing, and implementing a Strengths-based approach to people, teams, and culture. Contact us to talk to us about helping your team understand the power of Strengths.

  4. Jul 27

    How Play Gets Us Out Of Our Heads And Into The Moment

    Send us Fan Mail Play isn’t childish, and it isn’t a distraction from leadership. It’s one of the quickest ways to get out of your head, reconnect with the people around you, and create the kind of energy where learning actually sticks. We talk about why play helps us feel more present, more surprised, and more willing to laugh at ourselves, and how those moments can reveal purpose faster than another round of navel-gazing ever will.  We also get honest about the modern tradeoff between real fun and “soothing.” Screens can feel safe and calming, but they rarely create the shared experiences that build belonging. From family vacations to everyday moments with coworkers, we unpack what makes play feel genuine, why forced fun backfires, and how leaders can set a tone that is light without being dismissive. If you care about team culture, psychological safety, and employee engagement, you’ll hear practical ways to bring play into meetings without turning it into a cringe exercise.  A big thread running through the conversation is the idea that play is practice in disguise. Whether you’re coaching kids with running games or leading an organization through uncertainty, play lowers the stakes so people will try, experiment, and grow. We share stories about taking small risks, remembering what we loved as kids, and reclaiming wonder as adults when it feels like we have more to lose.  If this sparks an idea, subscribe to the Leadership Vision podcast, share the episode with a colleague or friend, and leave a review so more leaders can find it. Support the show - Read the full blog post here! CONTACT US email: connect@leadershipvisionconsulting.comLinkedIn FacebookLeadership Vision OnlineABOUT The Leadership Vision Podcast is a weekly show sharing our expertise in discovering, practicing, and implementing a Strengths-based approach to people, teams, and culture. Contact us to talk to us about helping your team understand the power of Strengths.

  5. Jul 20

    Doing Hard Things: Rethinking What It Means to Be Mentally Tough

    Send us Fan Mail What does it really mean to be mentally tough? For many of us, toughness has always meant pushing harder, working longer, and ignoring discomfort. But what if real resilience isn't about grinding through challenges—it's about learning how to respond to them with greater awareness? In this re-released episode of the Leadership Vision Podcast, Nathan Freeburg and Brian Schubring revisit Do Hard Things by performance expert Steve Magness. Together, they explore why emotions aren't obstacles to overcome, why self-awareness may be the foundation of resilience, and how leaders can develop the kind of toughness that leads to healthier teams, stronger relationships, and more sustainable performance. Whether you're leading an organization, parenting your kids, training for your next race, or simply trying to navigate life's inevitable challenges, this conversation offers a refreshing perspective on what it truly means to do hard things.  In this episode, you'll learn:  Why traditional definitions of mental toughness often fall short  How emotions provide valuable information instead of getting in the way  The difference between reacting and responding during stressful situations  How "zooming in" and "zooming out" can help you gain perspective  Why embracing your own identity is essential to resilient leadership  Practical ways to build emotional awareness and navigate difficult moments with greater confidenceSupport the show - Read the full blog post here! CONTACT US email: connect@leadershipvisionconsulting.comLinkedIn FacebookLeadership Vision OnlineABOUT The Leadership Vision Podcast is a weekly show sharing our expertise in discovering, practicing, and implementing a Strengths-based approach to people, teams, and culture. Contact us to talk to us about helping your team understand the power of Strengths.

  6. Jul 13

    Healthy Teams Don't Avoid Change. They Learn to Navigate It Together.

    Send us Fan Mail In this rebroadcast from the Leadership Vision archives, Nathan Freeburg sits down with Dr. Linda and Brian Schubring to explore how teams experience change differently and why understanding those differences can transform the way people work together. Rather than focusing on change management strategies, this conversation looks at the human side of change. Are you at your best before change begins, while it's happening, or after it's over? How do your CliftonStrengths shape your response? And what happens when teammates learn to communicate what they need instead of assuming everyone experiences change the same way? Along the way, Nathan and Linda even give Brian some real-time feedback about his own leadership style during change—a candid and humorous moment that illustrates just how valuable behavioral awareness can be on a healthy team. In this episode: Why change is the one challenge every team will inevitably faceThe difference between thriving before, during, or after changeHow your CliftonStrengths influence your response to uncertaintyWhy self-awareness leads to healthier collaborationThe importance of identifying and communicating your needs during changeHow organizational culture shapes—and is shaped by—the way teams navigate changeA real-life conversation about different leadership styles during seasons of transitionKey Takeaway Healthy teams don't eliminate change—they learn how to navigate it together. When people understand their own tendencies, appreciate the perspectives of others, and create space to communicate their needs, change becomes an opportunity for growth instead of a source of frustration. Support the show - Read the full blog post here! CONTACT US email: connect@leadershipvisionconsulting.comLinkedIn FacebookLeadership Vision OnlineABOUT The Leadership Vision Podcast is a weekly show sharing our expertise in discovering, practicing, and implementing a Strengths-based approach to people, teams, and culture. Contact us to talk to us about helping your team understand the power of Strengths.

4.7
out of 5
30 Ratings

About

The Leadership Vision Podcast explores what helps leaders, teams, and organizations navigate complexity and move forward with greater clarity, alignment, resilience, and engagement. Hosted by Nathan Freeburg and featuring conversations with Dr. Linda Schubring, Brian Schubring, and leaders and thinkers from a wide range of fields, each episode looks beneath the surface of leadership to examine the patterns shaping how we work, relate, change, and grow. Drawing from more than 25 years of work with leaders and teams, Leadership Vision brings together insights from positive psychology, applied neuroscience, organizational development, and real-world experience. We explore questions about team culture, relationships, well-being, change, communication, conflict, identity, and what it means to lead well in uncertain environments. We’re interested in better questions, deeper understanding, and practical ideas you can apply to yourself, your team, and the people you lead.

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