GrowthReady Podcast with Steve Mellor

Coach Steve Mellor
  • 5.0 (66)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Weekly

What does it mean to be ready to pursue growth? Should we pursue growth when we don't feel ready?  And how do we achieve optimal growth by readying ourselves for everything that comes with it? The GrowthReady Podcast seeks to form a true appreciation for all facets of the growth process as we learn from high performers, industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators.  Hosted by Steve Mellor, a seasoned high-performance executive coach and former US Olympic swim coach, each episode explores the pivotal moments that define true growth and the work that went into getting ready for it.  Through candid conversation and detailed personal accounts, guests share their unique experiences of overcoming challenges, embracing transformation, and what it takes to get ready for every step of their growth journey.

  1. Jul 1

    Episode 325: Leading Through Change Without Losing Yourself w/ Cindy Cohn

    Steve sits down with Cindy Cohn, former Executive Director of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, for a conversation about values, leadership, change, and knowing when it is time to make room for what comes next. Cindy has spent decades fighting for digital rights, privacy, free speech, and a better internet for the people who use it. Her career is a powerful example of what it means to stay grounded in your values while remaining flexible enough to adapt as the world changes around you. Cindy also shares a deeply personal look at her decision to step away from her leadership role at EFF. Not because the mission stopped mattering, but because she knew it was time to create space for the next chapter. In this episode, you’ll hear about: What it means to be “growth ready”Building a career around values instead of a fixed titleLeading through constant changeWhy change should not be treated as a solo sportHow to protect the work that gives you energyThe importance of listening across an organizationCindy’s transition out of EFF and into what comes nextHer book, Privacy’s Defender: My Thirty-Year Fight Against Digital SurveillanceWhether you are navigating transition, leading through uncertainty, or trying to reconnect with the work that fuels you, Cindy’s story offers a thoughtful reminder: staying true to your values does not mean staying still. Listen now and ask yourself: What part of your work gives you energy right now? About the Guest: Cindy Cohn is a digital rights attorney and longtime leader in the fight for privacy, free expression, and civil liberties online. She served as Executive Director of the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) for a decade and spent 26 years helping shape the organization’s work as the internet evolved—from early battles over encryption to today’s questions around platform power, surveillance, and AI. Cindy is also the author of Privacy’s Defender: My 30-Year Fight Against Digital Surveillance (MIT Press). Proceeds support EFF. Connect with Cindy: EFF:  https://www.eff.org  Cindy’s book page (via EFF):  https://www.eff.org  (search “Privacy’s Defender”) Book retailers: available wherever books are sold (including audiobook) Send us Fan Mail Support the show Connect with Steve Mellor Stay connected and keep growing with Steve: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-mellor-cc/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/coachstevemellorBook Steve to speak at your next event → www.stevemellorspeaks.comSupport the GrowthReady Podcast by leaving a 5-star rating → Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/growthready-podcast/id1406082163Connect with GrowthReady Join the community and keep your growth journey going: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearegrowthready/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/growthreadypodcast/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/growthreadywithcoachstevemellorOfficial Website - https://growthready.com/---- This podcast was produced on Riverside and released via ...

    Episode 325: Leading Through Change Without Losing Yourself w/ Cindy Cohn

  2. Jun 24

    Episode 324: Adaptability, Identity, and Choosing What Matters w/ David Hiler

    David Hiler’s answer to “What does it mean to be growth ready? ”is simple—and hard-earned: adapt to whatever comes your way. A lifelong runner and hospitality entrepreneur, David’s life changed fast when a knee issue turned into cancer. Faced with two paths—an invasive rebuild with uncertain outcomes or amputation with a clear shot at living fully—he chose the decision that protected what mattered most: movement, presence, and the life he wanted to keep saying yes to. Then came the second wave: recovering during COVID while trying to keep multiple hospitality businesses alive. What followed wasn’t just a comeback story. It was a full reset. In this conversation, David shares what it looked like to let go of the “more, bigger, next” mindset, selling the house, exiting the businesses, and trading a life of constant pressure for a life built around freedom, health, and daily happiness. Along the way, he talks candidly about the hard days too: the frustration, the self-consciousness, the work of journaling when you don’t feel like it, and the discipline of choosing yourself before life forces the issue. About the Guest: David Hiler is a former hospitality operator who built and ran multiple businesses, including a restaurant and brewery, before stepping into a new chapter after losing his leg to cancer. Today, David works as a consultant for bed & breakfasts and country inns, while traveling full-time with his wife in an RV—building a life around movement, simplicity, and the places that make them feel most alive. He’s also an advocate for accessible mobility through So Everybody Can Move, supporting efforts to improve insurance coverage for prosthetic options that help amputees live fully (including water legs, running blades, and sport-specific prosthetics). Connect with David: Instagram: @dhilerFacebook: @drhilerAdvocacy:  https://soeverybodycanmove.org/Adaptive Training Foundation: https://www.adaptivetrainingfoundation.org/ Amputee Coalition: https://amputee-coalition.org/Send us Fan Mail Support the show Connect with Steve Mellor Stay connected and keep growing with Steve: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-mellor-cc/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/coachstevemellorBook Steve to speak at your next event → www.stevemellorspeaks.comSupport the GrowthReady Podcast by leaving a 5-star rating → Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/growthready-podcast/id1406082163Connect with GrowthReady Join the community and keep your growth journey going: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearegrowthready/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/growthreadypodcast/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/growthreadywithcoachstevemellorOfficial Website - https://growthready.com/---- This podcast was produced on Riverside and released via ...

    Episode 324: Adaptability, Identity, and Choosing What Matters w/ David Hiler

  3. Jun 17

    Episode 323: Control Your Energy. Find Your Clarity. Get the Feedback You’re Missing w/ Jared Goralnick

    Jared Goralnick joins the GrowthReady Podcast with a deceptively simple definition of what it means to be growth ready: manage your energy and get clear on where you’re going. Jared Goralnick has spent 15 years building products that help organizations find, develop, and grow talent. He was Head of Product at LinkedIn Recruiter and VP of Product at Upwork, Go1, and Articulate, and previously founded SET Consulting and VC-backed AwayFind. He now leads Your360 AI, using voice AI to make coaching-grade, interview-style 360 feedback accessible beyond the executive level. The conversation goes deep into something most leaders avoid until it’s too late, feedback, not the vague “be more strategic” kind, but the kind that actually creates awareness, patterns, and a path forward. Jared shares why the most dangerous feedback problem isn’t harsh criticism, it’s being in the dark. And he breaks down what it takes to create the “door” for feedback to happen, how to make it useful, and why strengths deserve just as much attention as growth areas. If you’re a leader, founder, or high performer who cares about sustainable growth, this episode will help you: Build a practical definition of growth readiness: energy + clarityUnderstand why effective doesn’t mean being rightCreate a healthier relationship with feedback (giving and receiving)Turn vague feedback into something specific, usable, and actionableUse technology to support better leadership, without losing the human partConnect with Jared Website:  https://your360.ai LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/goralnick/ Send us Fan Mail Support the show Connect with Steve Mellor Stay connected and keep growing with Steve: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-mellor-cc/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/coachstevemellorBook Steve to speak at your next event → www.stevemellorspeaks.comSupport the GrowthReady Podcast by leaving a 5-star rating → Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/growthready-podcast/id1406082163Connect with GrowthReady Join the community and keep your growth journey going: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearegrowthready/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/growthreadypodcast/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/growthreadywithcoachstevemellorOfficial Website - https://growthready.com/---- This podcast was produced on Riverside and released via ...

    Episode 323: Control Your Energy. Find Your Clarity. Get the Feedback You’re Missing w/ Jared Goralnick

  4. Jun 11

    Episode 322: Pulled by Vision, Not Pushed by Pressure - The Will to Prepare with Patrick O’Donnell

    Patrick O’Donnell is the founder of Ignite Five and a performance-and-growth coach who helps leaders and organizations build repeatable rhythms that drive results without sacrificing the human being behind the role. He’s known for translating “systems” into something practical, daily routines, clear expectations, and real accountability. In this conversation, Patrick shares how the 2008 real estate crash became a turning point that pushed him to study peak performers and build a framework for sustainable growth. He also breaks down the “Personal Compass” (the 8 F’s) and why leaders who invest in their people’s whole lives create better performance, retention, and culture. If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing the right work… but doing it the hard way, this episode will land. You’ll hear: Why “growth ready” starts with preparation—the work you do before the moment demands itThe difference between being pushed by pressure and being pulled by a clear visionA simple way to think about systems (no tech required): rhythms, routines, and disciplinesThe 8 F’s framework (faith, family, friends, finances, fitness, fulfillment, freedom, fun) and how it creates alignment in life and leadershipWhy great leaders don’t only manage output, they build peopleIf you’re leading a team, building a business, or trying to create a life that still feels like yours while you chase big goals, this conversation will give you language—and a starting point. Connect with Patrick: LinkedIn: Patrick O’Donnell IIIWebsite: www.ignite5.com #leadership #highperformance #performanceunderpressure #mindset #systems #habits #executivecoaching #culture #teamperformance #growthready Send us Fan Mail Support the show Connect with Steve Mellor Stay connected and keep growing with Steve: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-mellor-cc/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/coachstevemellorBook Steve to speak at your next event → www.stevemellorspeaks.comSupport the GrowthReady Podcast by leaving a 5-star rating → Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/growthready-podcast/id1406082163Connect with GrowthReady Join the community and keep your growth journey going: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearegrowthready/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/growthreadypodcast/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/growthreadywithcoachstevemellorOfficial Website - https://growthready.com/---- This podcast was produced on Riverside and released via ...

    Episode 322: Pulled by Vision, Not Pushed by Pressure - The Will to Prepare with Patrick O’Donnell

  5. Jun 3

    Episode 321: The Growth Advantage: Awareness, Choice, and Change w/ Jason A. Sousa, The Performance Architect

    Some conversations don’t just spark ideas, they put words to something you’ve been carrying for a long time. In this episode, Jason A. Sousa (Coach J), known as The Performance Architect, founder of Mental Edge Athletics, and creator of the Performance Architecture methodology, joins the show to unpack what’s happening beneath the surface when the stakes rise and you can’t access the level you know you have. Jason works with athletes and high performers to map the patterns that show up under pressure. What you’ll hear in this episode: Why endless growth is a stronger long-term driver than chasing achievementJason’s definition of pressure: “Pressure reveals where your identity isn’t safe.”How the brain is wired for protection before performanceWhy surface-level tools can help in the moment, but won’t change the root patternIf you’ve ever felt any of these, this episode will hit: You can perform in practice… but tighten up when it matters.You know there’s more in you… but you can’t access it consistently.You keep repeating patterns (procrastination, perfectionism, overthinking) even when you “know better.”Connect with Jason Sousa: Instagram: @jasonasousa (Coach J / The Performance Architect)Website:  https://GetYourMentalEdge.com#growthready #leadership #mindset #highperformance #sportspsychology #performance #executivecoaching Send us Fan Mail Support the show Connect with Steve Mellor Stay connected and keep growing with Steve: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-mellor-cc/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/coachstevemellorBook Steve to speak at your next event → www.stevemellorspeaks.comSupport the GrowthReady Podcast by leaving a 5-star rating → Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/growthready-podcast/id1406082163Connect with GrowthReady Join the community and keep your growth journey going: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearegrowthready/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/growthreadypodcast/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/growthreadywithcoachstevemellorOfficial Website - https://growthready.com/---- This podcast was produced on Riverside and released via ...

    Episode 321: The Growth Advantage: Awareness, Choice, and Change w/ Jason A. Sousa, The Performance Architect

  6. May 27

    GrowthReady Replay: Jesse Cole on Competing Through Limitations

    This is a GrowthReady Replay, rewinding back to Fall 2020, when Steve Mellor sat down with Jesse Cole, founder of Fans First Entertainment and the owner of the Banana Ball Championship League, including the world-famous Savannah Bananas. It’s a conversation about what real competitors do when the world gets smaller: they don’t complain about limitations… they lean into them. Jesse shares the story behind building a baseball brand that sells out games, creates lifelong memories for fans, and turns entertainment into a serious competitive advantage, especially when pressure hits. After a career-ending shoulder injury ended his playing dreams, Jesse pivoted into leadership and entrepreneurship, eventually helping build a fans first organization known for bold experimentation, unforgettable in-stadium moments, and a relentless commitment to creating joy. Competing when resources are tight and stakes are highTurning limitations into fuel (instead of excuses)Experimenting fast, learning faster, and staying accountable to a public visionCreating emotional connection as the real measure of successConnect with Jesse / Savannah Bananas Search Savannah Bananas on your favorite platformWatch the short documentary: “The Banana Story”Visit their website www.findyouryellowtux.comSend us Fan Mail Support the show Connect with Steve Mellor Stay connected and keep growing with Steve: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-mellor-cc/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/coachstevemellorBook Steve to speak at your next event → www.stevemellorspeaks.comSupport the GrowthReady Podcast by leaving a 5-star rating → Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/growthready-podcast/id1406082163Connect with GrowthReady Join the community and keep your growth journey going: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearegrowthready/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/growthreadypodcast/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/growthreadywithcoachstevemellorOfficial Website - https://growthready.com/---- This podcast was produced on Riverside and released via ...

    GrowthReady Replay: Jesse Cole on Competing Through Limitations

  7. May 20

    Episode 320: You Have The Capacity To Handle Change w/ Ben Granger

    What if the discomfort you’re trying to avoid is the very thing making you stronger? Steve sits down with Ben Granger, Chief Workplace Psychologist at Qualtrics and author of A Leader Worth Following, to unpack what growth mindset really looks like in the real world: under pressure, inside messy organizations, and in moments where you don’t feel ready. Ben shares how he grew up with a fixed mindset (“I’m just not good at that”), what neuroscience and practice actually prove about improvement, and why people who experience more change can end up psychologically better off than those who experience less. They also go deep on leadership... why trust isn’t built on competence alone, why “benevolence” is the most overlooked ingredient, and how you can build a healthy team climate even inside a tough culture. In this episode, you’ll hear: Ben’s definition of being GrowthReady: a mental orientation toward learningFixed mindset in childhood (and why it’s so common in athletes and kids)The “internal bell curve”: how you can improve beyond your starting pointA surprising global finding: more change → better psychological outcomesWhy “knowing” isn’t the same as integrating (and how to make it your own)Learning vs performance orientations (prove / avoid / learn)How leaders can build trust: competence, integrity, and benevolenceCulture vs climate and how to build psychological safety from the inside outWhere to find Ben’s book (plus the playlist that goes with it) Connect with Ben: Website: benjamangranger.com (book + writing + podcast links + playlist)#growthready #leadership #mindset #personalgrowth #resilience #highperformance #performanceunderpressure Send us Fan Mail Support the show Connect with Steve Mellor Stay connected and keep growing with Steve: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-mellor-cc/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/coachstevemellorBook Steve to speak at your next event → www.stevemellorspeaks.comSupport the GrowthReady Podcast by leaving a 5-star rating → Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/growthready-podcast/id1406082163Connect with GrowthReady Join the community and keep your growth journey going: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearegrowthready/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/growthreadypodcast/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/growthreadywithcoachstevemellorOfficial Website - https://growthready.com/---- This podcast was produced on Riverside and released via ...

    Episode 320: You Have The Capacity To Handle Change w/ Ben Granger

  8. May 13

    Episode 319: Coaching Corner: There's No Hope... When There's Insistence

    Most people don’t quit because they’re incapable. They quit because they’re waiting for proof. In this Coaches’ Corner, Steve uses Abraham Lincoln as a case study in resilience, someone who lost elections, failed in business, navigated depression, and still kept moving forward when there wasn’t much evidence things were “working.” The core shift: hope sounds productive, but it can hide hesitation. Insistence is different. It’s the decision to keep going because it matters, whether it’s validated yet or not. Steve also shares a personal moment from his own transition out of elite sport: how “waiting to feel ready” can quietly become comfort, and why insistence is often inconvenient, uncomfortable, and misunderstood… but necessary. In this episode, you’ll hear: Why hope can look productive while still keeping you stuckThe real difference between hoping and insistingHow setbacks test your “response system” at higher levels each timeWhat Lincoln’s life reveals about commitment without guaranteesWhy waiting for clarity is often choosing convenienceA simple weekly challenge to turn hope into actionPick one area where you’ve been hoping things improve... and replace hope with one insistence-based action this week.  Not perfect.  Not massive.  Just real. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Connect with Steve Mellor Stay connected and keep growing with Steve: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-mellor-cc/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/coachstevemellorBook Steve to speak at your next event → www.stevemellorspeaks.comSupport the GrowthReady Podcast by leaving a 5-star rating → Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/growthready-podcast/id1406082163Connect with GrowthReady Join the community and keep your growth journey going: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearegrowthready/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/growthreadypodcast/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/growthreadywithcoachstevemellorOfficial Website - https://growthready.com/---- This podcast was produced on Riverside and released via ...

    Episode 319: Coaching Corner: There's No Hope... When There's Insistence
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About

What does it mean to be ready to pursue growth? Should we pursue growth when we don't feel ready?  And how do we achieve optimal growth by readying ourselves for everything that comes with it? The GrowthReady Podcast seeks to form a true appreciation for all facets of the growth process as we learn from high performers, industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators.  Hosted by Steve Mellor, a seasoned high-performance executive coach and former US Olympic swim coach, each episode explores the pivotal moments that define true growth and the work that went into getting ready for it.  Through candid conversation and detailed personal accounts, guests share their unique experiences of overcoming challenges, embracing transformation, and what it takes to get ready for every step of their growth journey.

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