Lead Don't Ctrl

Nick Mullins
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Lead Don’t Ctrl is a podcast about tech leadership, developer careers, and the reality of building software teams in the real world. Hosted by Nick Mullins, this show cuts through micromanagement, empty buzzwords, and leadership advice that sounds good but fails in practice. Each episode goes deeper than the YouTube videos — more context, more stories, and more honest conversations about what actually works when you’re leading engineers. If you’re a developer stepping into leadership, a tech lead trying to do better, or a manager who wants results without burning people out, this podcast is for you. Lead well. Don’t control.

Episodes

  1. Respect Isn't Earned

    12/29/2025

    Respect Isn't Earned

    Respect is not earned. It’s given by default, and it’s lost through behavior. In this episode, Nick breaks down why the “respect is earned” mindset does more harm than good, how leaders quietly burn trust in everyday interactions, and what real respect actually looks like in healthy teams. A direct, grounded conversation for leaders who want trust, not fear.

    5 min
  2. From Firefighter to Force Multiplier: The Real Job of a Tech Lead

    12/18/2025

    From Firefighter to Force Multiplier: The Real Job of a Tech Lead

    Most people think the job of a tech lead is to write the hardest code, review every pull request, and jump in whenever things are on fire. That thinking is exactly what burns teams out. In this episode of Lead Don’t Ctrl, Nick Mullins breaks down the real job of a tech lead, and why so many smart engineers struggle when they first step into leadership. We cover: Why tech leads don’t need to be the best developer on the team How “being the hero” quietly turns you into a bottleneck Why reviewing everything slows teams down instead of protecting quality The invisible work tech leads do to manage priorities and reduce noise How great tech leads create leverage, clarity, and trust Why your team should be able to operate without you for days at a time If you’re a tech lead, senior engineer, or someone who accidentally became “the responsible one,” this episode will help you rethink what leadership actually means, and how to do it without controlling everything. Lead. Don’t control.

    10 min
  3. Why This Podcast Exists (And Who It’s For)

    12/17/2025

    Why This Podcast Exists (And Who It’s For)

    In this episode, Nick explains what Lead Don’t Ctrl is about, who it’s for, and why leadership in tech so often defaults to control instead of clarity. If you’re a developer, tech lead, or manager who wants better outcomes without micromanagement, this is where to start.

    6 min
  • 3 Episodes

About

Lead Don’t Ctrl is a podcast about tech leadership, developer careers, and the reality of building software teams in the real world. Hosted by Nick Mullins, this show cuts through micromanagement, empty buzzwords, and leadership advice that sounds good but fails in practice. Each episode goes deeper than the YouTube videos — more context, more stories, and more honest conversations about what actually works when you’re leading engineers. If you’re a developer stepping into leadership, a tech lead trying to do better, or a manager who wants results without burning people out, this podcast is for you. Lead well. Don’t control.

Information

  • Creator
    Nick Mullins
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    3
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Nick Mullins
  • Show Website
    Lead Don't Ctrl