Flourishing Leaders Podcast

Scott Parsons
  • 5.0 (12)
  • Self-Improvement

The Flourishing Leaders Podcast Character. Leadership. Human Flourishing. Join Dr. Scott Parsons—retired Army officer, character development leader, and founder of The Flourishing Leaders Academy—for inspiring weekly conversations with influential thinkers, leaders, and changemakers psychology, philosophy, sports, business, and the arts—united by one goal: exploring how we can all lead with character and live flourishing lives. Each episode explores how to lead with character, make ethical decisions, build antifragile teams, and live a flourishing life. Guests share actionable insights on leadership development, emotional intelligence, growth mindset, moral courage, and practical wisdom—essential traits for today’s purpose-driven professionals. Join us as we dive into timeless wisdom and cutting-edge science to uncover strategies for ethical leadership, virtue cultivation, and living with purpose. Guests include Brian Johnson, Tal Ben-Shahar, Sean Casey, Caroline Adams Miller, Kristján Kristjánsson, and many more. Perfect for coaches, educators, executives, healthcare leaders, and lifelong learners, The Flourishing Leaders Podcast is your go-to resource for cultivating strong values, navigating complexity, and unlocking human potential. Listen every week to grow as a leader—and help others flourish too. #Leadership #LeaderDevelopment #CharacterDevelopment #CharacterEducation #PositivePsychology #Flourishing #VirtueEthics #Virtue #Areté #Arete #Phronesis #PracticalWisdom #Wisdom #Coaching #EthicalLeadership #EmotionalIntelligence #Heroic #Antifragile #Antifragility #Purpose #GrowthMindset #WellBeing #Well-Being

  1. 6d ago

    Episode 56: “Who Are You Becoming? Identity, Authenticity, and Flourishing Leadership” with Elaine Chung

    What does it really mean to "be yourself" at work? In this thought-provoking episode of the Flourishing Leaders Podcast, Dr. Scott Parsons and Jason Viyar sit down with leadership strategist, author, and organizational alignment expert Elaine Chung to explore a surprising question: What if authenticity isn't simply about being yourself? Drawing from positive psychology, organizational behavior, neuroscience, and her groundbreaking book The Illusion of Authenticity, Elaine challenges conventional wisdom about authenticity and leadership. She explains how our identities shape our values, behaviors, and leadership styles—and why flourishing leaders intentionally integrate their identities rather than compartmentalize them. The conversation also explores the role of play in leadership, the science of flow, team alignment, resilience, workplace well-being, and how leaders can cultivate stronger human connections in an increasingly AI-driven world. Key topics include: ~ The Illusion of Authenticity ~ Identity, Values, and Leadership ~ The Play-Doh Model of Identity Integration ~ The "38 Tries" Mindset and Resilience ~ Growth Mindset and Deliberate Practice ~ Play Neuroscience and Organizational Performance ~ Flow States and Thrive Zones ~ Leadership and Employee Well-Being ~ Team Alignment and Human Connection ~ Flourishing in the Age of Artificial Intelligence Elaine's insights offer a powerful roadmap for leaders who want to build healthier teams, foster deeper trust, and create workplaces where people can truly thrive. Thank you for listening to the Flourishing Leaders Podcast! Hosted by Dr. Scott Parsons, this podcast explores how character, virtue, wisdom, and purpose can shape a more flourishing life and leadership journey. Learn more at: Flourishing Leaders Academy Subscribe & Follow: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google | YouTube Share this episode with someone who’s ready to lead with integrity and flourish in every domain of life. Connect with Scott: LinkedIn | Scott@FlourishingLeaders.us Flourish with us—because leadership rooted in character changes everything.

    36 min

  2. May 26

    Episode 55: “Growing & Glowing: Leadership, Confidence, Resilience, and Helping Others Flourish” with Angela R. Lewis

    What does it mean to become a flourishing leader? In this uplifting and deeply inspiring episode of The Flourishing Leaders Podcast, Dr. Scott Parsons and Jason Viyar sit down with Angela Lewis — former professional basketball player, leadership coach, speaker, author, and Founder of Lewis Consulting Group. Angela shares her remarkable journey from growing up in St. Louis to competing at the NCAA Division I and professional levels, and how athletics helped shape her understanding of leadership, resilience, mentorship, confidence, and service. Together, they explore: What it means to be a “flourishing leader” The mentors and coaches who transformed Angela’s life How sports build character, cultural understanding, and resilience The importance of affirming and empowering young people Why flourishing leaders help others flourish Practical wisdom and trusting the long-term process Confidence, accountability, and “step-your-game-up deadlines” Leadership as service and encouragement Angela’s new children’s book A Ball and a Chance Her upcoming book signing at the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame Angela’s warmth, authenticity, humor, and wisdom shine throughout this conversation, offering encouragement to anyone striving to grow, lead, and help others discover their light. Connect with Angela Lewis LinkedIn: Angela Lewis Woman’s Basketball Hall of Fame & 2026 Induction Ceremony A Ball and a Chance The Game Changing Assist: Six Simple Ways to Choose SuccessPost Moves: The Female Athlete's Guide to Dominate Life After College Thank you for listening to the Flourishing Leaders Podcast! Hosted by Dr. Scott Parsons, this podcast explores how character, virtue, wisdom, and purpose can shape a more flourishing life and leadership journey. Learn more at: Flourishing Leaders Academy Subscribe & Follow: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google | YouTube Share this episode with someone who’s ready to lead with integrity and flourish in every domain of life. Connect with Scott: LinkedIn | Scott@FlourishingLeaders.us Flourish with us—because leadership rooted in character changes everything.

    29 min

  3. May 19

    Episode 54: “Moral Courage, Gratitude, and Human Flourishing: The Science and Soul of Character-Based Leadership” with Dr. Arthur Schwartz

    What does it mean to cultivate moral courage in a world increasingly shaped by polarization, fear, and distraction? In this powerful episode of The Flourishing Leaders Podcast, Dr. Scott Parsons sits down with Dr. Arthur Schwartz — Former President of Character.org and one of the key architects behind the modern character development and positive psychology movements. Arthur shares remarkable stories from his journey: Collaborating with Martin E. P. Seligman and Chris Peterson during the birth of positive psychology Helping launch groundbreaking research on gratitude, forgiveness, grit, hope, and flourishing at the John Templeton Foundation Developing leaders of character at the United States Air Force Academy Leading the global character education movement through Character.org Together, Scott and Arthur explore: Why flourishing is fundamentally about growth The difference between leadership and character-based leadership How leaders can strengthen their “moral courage muscle” Why forgiveness itself is a form of moral courage The importance of empathy in human flourishing Shared values, shared language, and shared accountability in organizational culture Why we should hire for character and train for skill The transformative power of gratitude in leadership and life Arthur also reflects on lessons from Nelson Mandela, the VIA Character Strengths framework, the role of exemplars in moral development, and the importance of cultivating courageous communities rooted in integrity and compassion. This conversation is a masterclass in character-centered leadership, practical wisdom, moral courage, and human flourishing. Thank you for listening to the Flourishing Leaders Podcast! Hosted by Dr. Scott Parsons, this podcast explores how character, virtue, wisdom, and purpose can shape a more flourishing life and leadership journey. Learn more at: Flourishing Leaders Academy Subscribe & Follow: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google | YouTube Share this episode with someone who’s ready to lead with integrity and flourish in every domain of life. Connect with Scott: LinkedIn | Scott@FlourishingLeaders.us Flourish with us—because leadership rooted in character changes everything.

    41 min

  4. May 12

    Episode 53: “Mind the Gap: Honesty, Virtue, and Character” with Professor Christian Miller

    Welcome to Season 2 of The Flourishing Leaders Podcast!  In this powerful season premiere, Dr. Scott Parsons and Jason Viyar are joined by Professor Christian Miller… one of the world’s leading scholars on moral character, virtue ethics, and honesty. Christian is the A. C. Reid Professor of Philosophy at Wake Forest University and the former director of both The Character Project and The Honesty Project, two of the largest research initiatives in the world focused on virtue and moral psychology. He is also the author of The Character Gap: How Good Are We? and the forthcoming book The Honesty Crisis: Preserving Our Most Treasured Virtue in an Increasingly Dishonest World. Together, they explore: What honesty actually means as a virtue Why honesty is foundational to trust and flourishing The relationship between honesty and leadership How AI and technology are accelerating an “honesty crisis” Deepfakes, misinformation, polarization, and online deception Why most human beings are morally “a mixed bag” The hidden psychological costs of dishonesty Compassion versus honesty in “white lie” situations The role of leaders in cultivating cultures of integrity and trust Why flourishing must be rooted in virtue rather than mere pleasure or performance This conversation is intellectually rich, deeply practical, and profoundly timely. If you care about leadership, ethics, education, technology, trust, and human flourishing, this is an episode you won’t want to miss. 🎧 Listen now and join us for the launch of Season 2! Thank you for listening to the Flourishing Leaders Podcast! Hosted by Dr. Scott Parsons, this podcast explores how character, virtue, wisdom, and purpose can shape a more flourishing life and leadership journey. Learn more at: Flourishing Leaders Academy Subscribe & Follow: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google | YouTube Share this episode with someone who’s ready to lead with integrity and flourish in every domain of life. Connect with Scott: LinkedIn | Scott@FlourishingLeaders.us Flourish with us—because leadership rooted in character changes everything.

    52 min

  5. May 5

    Episode 52: “Reclaiming Humanity, CORE Intelligence, and the Future of Flourishing Leadership” with Professor Elena Antonacopoulou

    What if the greatest challenge facing leaders today isn’t strategy, performance, or even innovation, but the loss of our humanity? In this powerful Season One finale of The Flourishing Leaders Podcast, Dr. Scott Parsons and Jason Viyar sit down with Professor Elena Antonacopoulou, a globally recognized expert in organizational learning, leadership development, and systemic transformation. Elena introduces a bold and timely idea: humane poverty… the growing gap between being human and becoming fully humane. In a world shaped by volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA), she challenges leaders to move beyond traditional frameworks and rediscover what it means to lead with wisdom, dignity, and love. Together, they explore: What it means to become human through leadership The concept of CORE intelligence (Centered, One, Reflexive, Energized) Why tensions can become extensions of impact The role of sensuous learning in navigating uncertainty How interbeing reshapes relationships, leadership, and organizations Why leadership must shift from control to impactful action The importance of worthiness, dignity, and honor beyond virtues and values The global movement toward flourishing and the Global Flourishing Goals This conversation blends philosophy, psychology, leadership, and lived experience into a deeply moving and intellectually rich dialogue. One that challenges leaders to rethink not just how they lead, but who they are becoming. If you’re ready to move beyond performance and toward purpose…  Beyond competence and toward character…  This episode is for you. Listen now and join the movement toward flourishing leadership. Thank you for listening to the Flourishing Leaders Podcast! Hosted by Dr. Scott Parsons, this podcast explores how character, virtue, wisdom, and purpose can shape a more flourishing life and leadership journey. Learn more at: Flourishing Leaders Academy Subscribe & Follow: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google | YouTube Share this episode with someone who’s ready to lead with integrity and flourish in every domain of life. Connect with Scott: LinkedIn | Scott@FlourishingLeaders.us Flourish with us—because leadership rooted in character changes everything.

    45 min

  6. Apr 28

    Episode 51: “Finding Beauty in the Storm: Resilience, Wholeness, and Grounded Optimism” with Dr. Maria Sirois

    What does it mean to flourish when life is difficult, uncertain, or heartbreaking? In this deeply moving episode of The Flourishing Leaders Podcast, Dr. Scott Parsons and Jason Viyar welcome Dr. Maria Sirois, a positive psychologist, international consultant, speaker, and author whose work bridges resilience, flourishing, mind-body medicine, leadership, grief, beauty, and hope. Maria is the author of The Generous Exchange: How Attention to Beauty, Goodness, and Excellence Restores Us and Our World, A Short Course in Happiness After Loss, and Every Day Counts. Her work invites us into the profound paradox of being fully human and still capable of magnificence—faulted and astonishing, exhausted and generative, grieving and joyful. In this conversation, Maria explores: Why flourishing leadership requires attention to the whole person How resilient people “shape the day” The difference between distraction and true restoration Why joy and grief are companions, not opposites How beauty, goodness, and excellence restore us What grounded optimism looks like in difficult times Why wonder can be a form of resilience How leaders can create cultures where people feel seen, valued, and strengthened Maria offers a simple but powerful practice for anyone seeking to flourish: each day, ask what one thing you can do to strengthen, calm, or energize yourself—and then choose one constructive action. This episode is a beautiful reminder that resilience is not about pretending life is easy. It is about meeting reality with courage, wisdom, beauty, and an open heart. Learn more about Dr. Maria Sirois: MariaSirois.com Thank you for listening to the Flourishing Leaders Podcast! Hosted by Dr. Scott Parsons, this podcast explores how character, virtue, wisdom, and purpose can shape a more flourishing life and leadership journey. Learn more at: Flourishing Leaders Academy Subscribe & Follow: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google | YouTube Share this episode with someone who’s ready to lead with integrity and flourish in every domain of life. Connect with Scott: LinkedIn | Scott@FlourishingLeaders.us Flourish with us—because leadership rooted in character changes everything.

    45 min

  7. Apr 21

    Episode 50: “Cyber-Wisdom, Character, and the Moral Purpose of Flourishing Leadership” with Professor Tom Harrison

    What does it mean to be a flourishing leader in a time of moral complexity, institutional pressure, and rapid technological change? In this milestone 50th episode of The Flourishing Leaders Podcast, Dr. Scott Parsons welcomes Professor Tom Harrison for a rich and deeply personal conversation on character education, leadership, practical wisdom, and human flourishing. Tom Harrison is Professor of Education at the University of Birmingham, Director of the Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues, and Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education and Learning Innovation. He has been part of the Jubilee Centre since its founding in 2012 and is one of the most respected voices internationally in the fields of character education, cyber-wisdom, and virtues-based leadership.  In this episode, Scott and Tom explore: What the phrase flourishing leader really means Why flourishing must include both the individual and the common good How the Jubilee Centre’s framework for character education became so globally influential What Tom has learned from leading an academic centre with a moral mission How he is helping embed character and practical wisdom into university education at scale Why the MA in Character Education has had such wide-reaching impact The vision behind the newly launched Global Character Alliance Why cyber-phronesis matters more than ever in the digital age How character can guide children, parents, educators, and leaders in a world shaped by technology and AI This episode is also a special one personally: Scott and Tom reflect on the unusual fact that this is the third podcast episode they have shared together across three different podcast series over the years. If you care about character education, virtue ethics, higher education, leadership development, cyber-wisdom, or the future of human flourishing, this conversation is for you. Professor Tom Harrison’s most recent book, THRIVE: How to Cultivate Character So Your Children Can Flourish Online, won the IFFD International Family Award and remains an important guide for anyone seeking to raise wise and virtuous young people in a digital world.  Listen now and join us for a conversation about why character still matters, why it always will, and how it can help leaders and institutions flourish. Thank you for listening to the Flourishing Leaders Podcast! Hosted by Dr. Scott Parsons, this podcast explores how character, virtue, wisdom, and purpose can shape a more flourishing life and leadership journey. Learn more at: Flourishing Leaders Academy Subscribe & Follow: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google | YouTube Share this episode with someone who’s ready to lead with integrity and flourish in every domain of life. Connect with Scott: LinkedIn | Scott@FlourishingLeaders.us Flourish with us—because leadership rooted in character changes everything.

    39 min

  8. Apr 14

    Episode 49: “Love, Leadership, and the Path to Human Flourishing” with Professor Matthew T. Lee

    What if leadership isn’t about control, but about cultivating the conditions for human flourishing? In Episode #49 of The Flourishing Leaders Podcast, Dr. Scott Parsons and Jason Viyar sit down with Professor Matthew T. Lee, Director of the Flourishing Network at Harvard University’s Human Flourishing Program, Director of Empirical Research at Harvard, Professor of the Social Sciences and Humanities at Baylor University, and co-editor of Leadership for Flourishing (Oxford University Press). Together, they explore a bold and timely reimagining of leadership. One that moves beyond extraction, transaction, and performance… toward love, dialogue, and ecosystem-wide flourishing. Matt shares insights from his work in sociology, positive psychology, and global research on well-being, offering a powerful vision for leaders seeking to create meaningful, sustainable impact. In this episode, you’ll discover: What it truly means to be a flourishing leader Why love belongs at the center of leadership The shift from an “adversity economy” to a flourishing economy The role of dialogue, reflection, and “beloved community” What global research reveals about the predictors of human flourishing This conversation will challenge, inspire, and expand how you think about leadership—and your role in shaping a better future. 🎧 Listen now and join the movement toward flourishing leadership. Thank you for listening to the Flourishing Leaders Podcast! Hosted by Dr. Scott Parsons, this podcast explores how character, virtue, wisdom, and purpose can shape a more flourishing life and leadership journey. Learn more at: Flourishing Leaders Academy Subscribe & Follow: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google | YouTube Share this episode with someone who’s ready to lead with integrity and flourish in every domain of life. Connect with Scott: LinkedIn | Scott@FlourishingLeaders.us Flourish with us—because leadership rooted in character changes everything.

    55 min
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5
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12 Ratings

About

The Flourishing Leaders Podcast Character. Leadership. Human Flourishing. Join Dr. Scott Parsons—retired Army officer, character development leader, and founder of The Flourishing Leaders Academy—for inspiring weekly conversations with influential thinkers, leaders, and changemakers psychology, philosophy, sports, business, and the arts—united by one goal: exploring how we can all lead with character and live flourishing lives. Each episode explores how to lead with character, make ethical decisions, build antifragile teams, and live a flourishing life. Guests share actionable insights on leadership development, emotional intelligence, growth mindset, moral courage, and practical wisdom—essential traits for today’s purpose-driven professionals. Join us as we dive into timeless wisdom and cutting-edge science to uncover strategies for ethical leadership, virtue cultivation, and living with purpose. Guests include Brian Johnson, Tal Ben-Shahar, Sean Casey, Caroline Adams Miller, Kristján Kristjánsson, and many more. Perfect for coaches, educators, executives, healthcare leaders, and lifelong learners, The Flourishing Leaders Podcast is your go-to resource for cultivating strong values, navigating complexity, and unlocking human potential. Listen every week to grow as a leader—and help others flourish too. #Leadership #LeaderDevelopment #CharacterDevelopment #CharacterEducation #PositivePsychology #Flourishing #VirtueEthics #Virtue #Areté #Arete #Phronesis #PracticalWisdom #Wisdom #Coaching #EthicalLeadership #EmotionalIntelligence #Heroic #Antifragile #Antifragility #Purpose #GrowthMindset #WellBeing #Well-Being

Information

  • Creator
    Scott Parsons
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    57
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Flourishing Leaders Podcast
  • Show Website
    Flourishing Leaders Podcast

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