Level 10 Leaders

Ryan Castle

Level 10 Leaders is the leadership podcast for CEOs and senior leaders scaling a business from hundreds to thousands. Hosted by entrepreneur, leadership coach, and systems builder Ryan Castle, every episode delivers field-tested tactics, practical tools, and real stories from top founders and execution experts who've actually done it. If you're obsessed with business growth, execution, and building a leadership team that performs without you in every room, this is your show.

  1. Ep 29 – The hidden communication crisis inside your leadership team, Ken Bogard

    3d ago

    Ep 29 – The hidden communication crisis inside your leadership team, Ken Bogard

    Ryan Castle sits down with Ken Bogard, nine-year EOS implementer and author of Know Honesty, to challenge everything you think you know about communication in business. Ken's core argument is deceptively simple, and most leadership teams are only doing half of it. He unpacks why honesty and openness are two completely different behaviours, why your scorecard is useless without courageous conversations around it, and how growing disconnection is quietly eroding trust on leadership teams even when everyone's technically "in the room." Ken delivers three powerful insights: why removing the exceptions to honesty is the boldest move you can make, how to use data as a unifying force rather than a weapon, and why openness, not honesty, is the real secret sauce to human connection and high-performance teams. Whether you're running weekly Level 10 meetings, trying to get your scorecard to actually mean something, or just wondering why your team still isn't clicking, this episode is your playbook. Useful links:Connect with Ken Bogard on LinkedInKnow Honesty website Pursuit of Honesty Assessment Know Honesty Book 👉 FREE Resource: level10.us/execution - Execution Strength Diagnostic Discover if your managers are driving results or letting commitments drift. 👉 Got a Level 10 Leaders podcast tip? - Submit your tip at lvl10.us/submit-tipWhere else you can find us Website: https://www.level10leaders.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/level10leaders/

    41 min
  2. Ep 27 - Hidden traps, career strategy and maximising your value with Darren Tompkins

    May 26

    Ep 27 - Hidden traps, career strategy and maximising your value with Darren Tompkins

    Ryan Castle sits down with Darren Tompkins, founder of the Vedra Ray Group, to unpack what really holds technical professionals back from making the leap into people leadership, and it has nothing to do with their qualifications. Drawing on years of experience placing candidates across engineering, construction, and manufacturing, Darren exposes the hidden traps in the hiring process, why cultural fit matters more than the job description, and why showing leadership intent throughout the year beats announcing it at an annual review. Darren shares three powerful insights: how to look beyond the job posting, why leveraging virtual support is a game-changer for reclaiming your time, and how to think strategically about maximising long-term value, not just your next pay rise. This episode is for engineers, project managers, and technical professionals ready to step into leadership. If you're job hunting, already in the seat, or simply wondering if management is the right move, Darren's honest, no-nonsense perspective delivers a practical roadmap. Oh, and stay till the end for the story behind a carrot-based hot sauce company with a pro-wrestling twist. Useful links:Connect with Darren Tompkins on LinkedInvaderrey.com Darren's carrot-based, wrestling-approved hot sauce. Fair warning: it creeps up on you. 🌶️headlockhotsauce.com 👉 FREE Resource: level10.us/execution - Execution Strength Diagnostic Discover if your managers are driving results or letting commitments drift. 👉 Got a Level 10 Leaders podcast tip? - Submit your tip at lvl10.us/submit-tipWhere else you can find us Website: https://www.level10leaders.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/level10leaders/

    34 min
  3. Ep 25 – Mind the gap: Why strategy fails in execution (and how leaders can fix it) with Dr Mike Ashby

    Apr 28

    Ep 25 – Mind the gap: Why strategy fails in execution (and how leaders can fix it) with Dr Mike Ashby

    Ryan Castle sits down with Mike to unpack a challenge most leadership teams quietly accept: the gap between strategy and execution. Drawing from real conversations with CEOs and operators, they explore why even well-crafted strategies consistently fall short, often by 10–20%, and how inertia, lack of visibility, and weak accountability allow that gap to persist. From poor communication of strategy to teams being consumed by day-to-day “busyness,” this episode highlights why intentions rarely translate into results without deliberate structure and focus.  They break down what it really takes to “mind the gap”, aligning daily activity with business outcomes, creating time for meaningful work, and building manager capability through consistent, habit-driven execution. The conversation also explores the evolving role of AI in leadership, the risk of mistaking outputs for real progress, and why great managers must develop both capability and judgment. If you’re leading a team and feel the frustration of missed targets despite clear plans, this episode offers practical insights to close the gap and drive real performance. Connect with Dr Mike Ashby on LinkedIn 👉 FREE Resource: level10.us/execution - Execution Strength Diagnostic Discover if your managers are driving results or letting commitments drift. 👉 Got a Level 10 Leaders podcast tip? - Submit your tip at lvl10.us/submit-tipWhere else you can find us Website: https://www.level10leaders.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/level10leaders/

    36 min
  4. Ep 23 – 3 business growth lessons: profit, market focus & speed with Mark Stanley

    Apr 14

    Ep 23 – 3 business growth lessons: profit, market focus & speed with Mark Stanley

    Ryan Castle sits down with Mark Stanley, EOS Implementer and co-author of "Data: Harness Your Numbers to Go from Uncertain to Unstoppable", to explore the practical realities of building and scaling a business through a data-driven lens. Mark shares three powerful insights from his journey: the importance of truly understanding the market you operate in, why gross profit matters more than revenue, and how speed creates a meaningful competitive advantage. Drawing from decades of experience, including multiple failed ventures, he unpacks the lessons that shaped his approach to leadership, decision-making, and growth. This episode is for entrepreneurs, founders, and leadership teams looking to simplify complexity, sharpen their numbers, and execute with greater clarity. If you’re navigating growth, struggling with focus, or want to build a more disciplined, data-driven business, Mark’s insights offer both practical tools and hard-earned perspective. Useful links:Connect with Mark Stanley on LinkedInData: Harness Your Numbers to Go from Uncertain to Unstoppableunstoppable-biz.com 👉 FREE Resource: level10.us/execution - Execution Strength Diagnostic Discover if your managers are driving results or letting commitments drift. 👉 Got a Level 10 Leaders podcast tip? - Submit your tip at lvl10.us/submit-tipWhere else you can find us Website: https://www.level10leaders.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/level10leaders/

    45 min

About

Level 10 Leaders is the leadership podcast for CEOs and senior leaders scaling a business from hundreds to thousands. Hosted by entrepreneur, leadership coach, and systems builder Ryan Castle, every episode delivers field-tested tactics, practical tools, and real stories from top founders and execution experts who've actually done it. If you're obsessed with business growth, execution, and building a leadership team that performs without you in every room, this is your show.