Learning Leadership: In Practice

Reflections on leadership, learning, and growth in practice.
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Hosted by David Reyes Learning Leadership: In Practice is a reflective podcast exploring leadership as a practice shaped by learning, experience, and honest reflection. Rooted in the concept of learning leadership, inspired by Learning Leadership, the show draws from books, teaching, leadership development work, and real-world experience to examine how leaders grow over time. Episodes include thoughtful reflections, limited series, and insights drawn from both leadership literature and unexpected places. This podcast is for leaders who believe growth does not stop with a title and who are committed to staying curious, continuing to learn, and leading with intention. davidreyes.substack.com

Episodes

  1. Episode 10: Challenge Yourself

    7H AGO

    Episode 10: Challenge Yourself

    In this third episode of The Five Fundamentals in Practice, we explore the next principle from Learning Leadership by James Kouzes and Barry Posner: Challenge Yourself. Leadership growth does not happen in comfort. It happens in moments of stretch, uncertainty, and adversity. Kouzes and Posner’s research shows that every example of leadership at its best includes challenge, making it not an obstacle, but a training ground. In this episode, I reflect on stepping into leadership after being a high-performing individual contributor and the frustration that comes with moving from competence to learning again. That season reminded me that growth often follows a learning curve, not immediate mastery. The challenge was not something to avoid, but something shaping me into a better leader. We also explore the roles of grit, curiosity, and courage in leadership development, and how adopting a learning mindset enables us to turn setbacks into growth opportunities. Because leadership is not formed easily. It is formed in challenge.Thank you for learning alongside of me. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit davidreyes.substack.com

    8 min

  2. MAR 8

    Episode 9: The Five Fundamentals of Leadership in Practice (#2)

    I’m continuing the series on Learning Leadership In Practice, exploring the Five Fundamentals of Becoming an Exemplary Leader from Learning Leadership by James Kouzes and Barry Posner. This episode focuses on the second fundamental: Aspire to Excel. Exemplary leaders don’t drift into excellence; they choose it. Aspiring to excel means raising your personal standard and caring deeply about the mission and the people you serve. In this episode, I reflect on how pursuing my doctorate reshaped my mindset around perseverance and growth, and how aspiring to excel today means continuing to learn long after formal education ends. Kouzes and Posner remind us that excellence is not just about achievement; it’s about aligning with your values and committing to continual growth. As you listen, consider: Am I raising my own standard, or drifting toward comfort? Here are some leadership podcasts I would recommend: * Practical Wisdom for Leaders with Scott Allen * Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast * At the Table with Patrick Lencioni * Rethinking with Adam Grant * Andy Stanley Leadership Podcast Thanks for learning alongside of me. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit davidreyes.substack.com

    7 min

  3. FEB 23

    Episode 8: The Five Fundamentals of Leadership In Practice (#1)

    I’m excited to kick off a brand-new series on Learning Leadership In Practice. After reflecting on the books I read in 2025 over the first seven episodes, we now turn to what I consider a foundational text for this podcast: Learning Leadership by James Kouzes and Barry Posner. Over the next five episodes, I’ll be walking through the Five Fundamentals of Becoming an Exemplary Leader, not just summarizing them, but exploring what they look like in practice. We begin with the first fundamental: Believe You Can Learn to Lead. Too often, our leadership growth is limited not by opportunity, but by belief. Kouzes and Posner argue that leadership is learnable and that the best leaders are the best learners. In this episode, I share a personal story of stepping into leadership over former peers, wrestling with imposter syndrome, and learning that leadership development is ultimately self-development. If leadership is learnable, then growth is always available. I’d love for you to listen, reflect, and consider: Where might limiting beliefs be holding back your leadership growth? Thanks for learning alongside of me. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit davidreyes.substack.com

    8 min

  4. FEB 16

    Episode 7: Everyday Spaces Shape the Leader You Are Becoming

    Some of the most formative leadership lessons I learned in 2025 did not come from leadership books. They came from stories. From reading about the building of Saturday Night Live in Lorne. From understanding the cultural development behind Broadway. From the grit-filled stories of everyday runners in the New York City Marathon in a Race Like No Other. From reflecting on the quiet power of movement in A Philosophy of Walking. None of these books was written as a leadership manual. And yet, each one shaped how I think about leadership. This episode is about that idea. Leadership is building blocks. It rarely starts with a polished blueprint. It begins with a vision, a disorienting moment, or simply a step taken forward when clarity is limited. Over time, those steps form something more substantial than we could see in the moment. In seasons that felt hazy this past year, I had to remind myself that I was still laying blocks. Even if I couldn’t see the full structure forming. Even if the next step felt small. Sometimes the most important work is simply taking the block that is closest to you and placing it well. Stories helped me see that more clearly. They reminded me that environments shape us. That culture is built intentionally. That grit is often quiet. That reflection often happens in motion. And that leadership is formed in everyday spaces long before it is recognized publicly. This episode is an invitation to read differently. To pay attention to value systems in stories. To notice how characters respond to adversity. To observe how systems are built and sustained. To allow even a “fun” book to shape your leadership imagination. If you are navigating a disorienting season, perhaps the next step is not about gaining more clarity for yourself. Perhaps it is about serving someone else. Encouraging someone. Mentoring someone. Showing up faithfully in the space you are already in. Leadership is not paused during transition. It is practiced differently. As always, thank you for learning alongside me.Books Referenced in This Episode * Lorne by Susan Morrison * Broadway by Fran Leadon * A Race Like No Other by Liz Robbins * A Philosophy of Walking by Frédéric Gros This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit davidreyes.substack.com

    9 min

  5. FEB 9

    Episode 6: Leadership Under Pressure, Character, and Decision-Making

    This episode sits with a question I found myself returning to again and again in 2025:What does leadership look like when the pressure is real and the noise is loud? This past year, I had the opportunity to participate in the Presidential Leadership Scholars program. It was a formative experience that brought together leaders from across industries, worldviews, and political perspectives to wrestle with how leadership shows up in moments that matter most. Much of my reading during this season centered on presidential leadership, not on policy or accomplishments, but on character. Here is the list of books that I referenced in this episode: 1776 — David McCullough And There Was Light — Jon Meacham Destiny and Power — Jon Meacham Character Matters — Jean Becker Make Your Mark — Mark Updegrove Confronting the Presidents — Bill O’Reilly What stood out to me was how often, under pressure, leadership was less about speaking boldly and more about listening deeply. Less about certainty and more about humility. Time and again, the leaders we studied demonstrated that the strength of a decision was often shaped by the advisors around them, the dialogue they invited, and the values they refused to compromise. This episode reflects on what it means to lead with character when clarity is limited. How authenticity and values set the tone for teams. How leaders can move people forward even when the “why” remains unanswered by anchoring themselves and others in the “what” and the “who.” I also share how the diversity of thought within the PLS community itself became a living example of character-driven leadership. Differences did not divide the group. Shared values, humility, and a willingness to learn from one another created trust, deep relationships, and meaningful dialogue across perspectives. In a world that often rewards volume, speed, and visibility, this episode is an invitation to return to something quieter and more enduring. Leadership rooted in character. Leadership that listens before it speaks. Leadership that understands influence as stewardship rather than spotlight. If you feel discouraged by the current leadership landscape or unsure how to lead well amid pressure and polarization, my hope is that this episode reminds you that character still matters. And that it still has the power to bring people together, shape decisions, and create lasting impact. As always, thanks for learning alongside me. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit davidreyes.substack.com

    9 min
  6. Episode 5: Strategy, Creativity, and Seeing the Bigger Picture

    JAN 26

    Episode 5: Strategy, Creativity, and Seeing the Bigger Picture

    There are seasons where strategy feels like the last thing you have the energy for. When you are navigating transition, uncertainty, or disorientation, it can feel like everything becomes tactical. What is right in front of you demands attention. Decisions feel heavy. Long-term thinking can feel indulgent or even unrealistic. And yet, this past year reminded me that strategy does not disappear in disorienting seasons. It simply changes form. In Episode 5 of Learning Leadership In Practice, I reflect on how my understanding of strategy evolved in 2025. Less as a rigid plan that gets you from point A to point B, and more as a framework that shapes how you think, how you relate to time and energy, and how you stay open to possibility. A pivotal influence in this episode is the book Range by David Epstein. For the first time, I felt free to name something I had long experienced. That being a generalist in a specialized world is not a liability. It can be a strength. This episode explores what it looks like to trust a non-linear path, to stop apologizing for a resume that does not fit a single mold, and to see strategy as connection rather than control. I reflect on how partnerships, curiosity, and a learning mindset can create momentum even when clarity feels delayed. If you have ever looked at your path and wondered if it makes sense, or felt boxed in by expectations of specialization, my hope is that this conversation gives you permission to zoom out. To see the bigger picture. And to trust that the framework you are building will carry you forward, even when the next step is not fully clear. As always, thank you for learning alongside me. Feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn. Subscribe to Learning Leadership, In Practice on Apple Podcasts. Thanks for listening to Learning Leadership, In Practice! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit davidreyes.substack.com

    8 min
  7. Episode 4: Habits, Discipline, and the Long Game of Growth

    JAN 19

    Episode 4: Habits, Discipline, and the Long Game of Growth

    This episode sits in a very real place for me. 2025 was a disorienting year. Finding my footing felt harder than usual, and there were days when habits that once felt grounding started to feel like wasted energy. Discipline is much easier to sustain when you can clearly see what it is leading toward. It becomes far more challenging when the outcome is unclear. And yet, I knew I did not want to lose momentum. I did not want to abandon the practices that had shaped me simply because the season had changed. What I learned is that habits and discipline cannot always be tied to performance, productivity, or a role. In seasons of transition, they have to be rooted in identity. They have to be for you. For who you are becoming. Not for who you are trying to prove yourself to be. This episode explores what it looks like to keep growing when life feels disoriented. How discipline can shift from something that drains us to something that renews us. And how rest, when paired with structure, can actually support momentum rather than stall it. A major theme I return to in this episode is the idea that disorientation is not the end of the story. It is often the beginning of transformation. Growth does not stop just because clarity slows down. In many cases, it deepens. If you are navigating a season of transition, uncertainty, or reorientation, my hope is that this episode gives you permission. Permission to keep learning. Permission to rest without guilt. Permission to take the next best step, even if that step feels small. Leadership is learned in motion, not just in moments of certainty. That is at the heart of Learning Leadership. Books Referenced in This Episode Here are the books that shaped this reflection and informed the episode: * Life Is in the Transitions by Bruce Feiler * Atomic Habits by James Clear * Discipline Is Destiny by Ryan Holiday * Grit by Angela Duckworth * The 5 AM Club by Robin Sharma You can listen to Episode 4 of Learning Leadership In Practice here on Substack, or subscribe on Apple Podcasts if you prefer listening there. Thanks for continuing to learn alongside me.I would love to connect with anyone and discuss what you are learning in leadership. Feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn.For those interested in learning more of the Presidential Leadership Scholars program, please visit: https://www.presidentialleadershipscholars.org/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit davidreyes.substack.com

    8 min

  8. JAN 12

    Episode 3: Leadership, Teams, and Organizational Health

    In this episode of Learning Leadership, In Practice I explore what it looks like to lead while you are still learning. In a year of transition and change, I found myself wrestling with how to stay grounded in leadership truths while helping my team navigate unclear waters. These books helped shape how I thought about organizations, systems, and people, and reminded me that leadership is learned by practicing presence, reflection, and intentional influence. Below are the books featured in this episode with links to explore or purchase on Amazon*: Strong Ground by Brené Brown The Truth About Employee Engagement by Patrick Lencioni How to Lead When You’re Not in Charge by Clay Scroggins The McKinsey Way by Ethan Rasiel Rethinking Work by Rishad Tobaccowala In this episode, I reflect on how grappling with measuring impact changed how I led, and how systems and people are deeply connected in the life of any organization. I also explore how leadership transformation is not a single moment but a process that grows through reflection, presence, and listening to what the work itself teaches us. Listen to the episode here:https://open.substack.com/pub/davidreyes/p/episode-3-leadership-teams-and-the?r=1ba4g&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/learning-leadership-in-practice/id1865747751 Thank you for joining me in this ongoing journey of learning and growing in leadership. *As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit davidreyes.substack.com

    9 min
  9. Episode 2 – Faith, Vocation, and the Formation of a Leader

    JAN 5

    Episode 2 – Faith, Vocation, and the Formation of a Leader

    In this episode of Learning Leadership In Practice, host David Reyes reflects on a season of deep growth shaped by both hardship and learning. Through a cluster of meaningful books he read in 2025, David explores how leadership is formed by presence, intentionality, and trust — especially when clarity is elusive. Books Featured in This Episode Draw the Circle: The 40 Day Prayer Challenge — Mark BattersonA reread that grounded David in prayer and helped him practice thoughtful deliberation when clarity was scarce.GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16182599-draw-the-circle Goodreads Garden City: Work, Rest, and the Art of Being Human — John Mark ComerA reminder of calling and stewardship, helping shape how David understood hard work in this season.GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23403781-garden-city Goodreads Every Good Endeavor: Connecting Your Work to God’s Plan for the World — Timothy KellerA perspective on how faith and work are integrated, and how work itself participates in formation and calling.GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13589149-every-good-endeavor Goodreads Lead Like Jesus: Lessons from the Greatest Leadership Role Model of All Time — Ken BlanchardA leadership reminder about humility, service, and leading from character more than position.🔗 GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42864.Lead_Like_Jesus Goodreads The Flourishing Family: A Jesus-Centered Guide to Parenting with Peace and Purpose — David EricksonA reality check that leadership also happens in the home, and that formation stretches beyond professional arenas.GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/209399768-the-flourishing-family Goodreads Episode Themes How to lead when the why isn’t clear, but the next best step is visible Practicing leadership as presence and intentionality, not just performance Faith and work as intertwined avenues of forming identity and calling Recognizing that hard seasons are formation sectors, not detours Quote From the Episode “If you know you may never get an answer to why, consider shifting toward asking, What can I do now?” Lingering Question To close the episode and extend reflection:What do I need to learn the most in this season?Am I willing to endure this season long enough to truly capture the lessons it has for me?Should my prayer be for this season to end — or for it to continue until I’ve learned what I need to learn?Follow David on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-b-reyes/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit davidreyes.substack.com

    7 min
  10. Learning Leadership, In Practice

    12/28/2025

    Learning Leadership, In Practice

    In this inaugural episode of Learning Leadership, In Practice, host David Reyes introduces the heart and purpose of this podcast: exploring what it truly means to lead as a learner. David shares why learning leadership — a concept inspired by the work of James Kouzes and Barry Posner — matters now more than ever, and how this podcast will lean into reflection, growth, and thoughtful practice over time. He also lays out the first series — reflections on the books he read in 2025, including leadership texts and other works that offered insights into leadership in surprising ways. This episode is an invitation for listeners to join a space where leadership is continually shaped by curiosity, humility, and intentional learning. Whether you’re leading a team, mentoring others, serving in your community, or seeking to grow personally and professionally, this episode encourages you to stay curious and keep learning. Featured Book:Learning Leadership: The Five Fundamentals of Becoming an Exemplary Leader — by James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner. A foundational book in David’s leadership journey, this work challenges readers to embrace leadership as a learned practice and offers practical actions for personal growth and development. AmazonBuy it on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Learning-Leadership-Fundamentals-Becoming-Exemplary/dp/1119144280 Amazon What You’ll Hear in This Episode: Why this podcast exists and what David hopes it will become What learning leadership means and why it matters How the 2025 reading series will work An invitation to lead by learning Quote for Leaders: Leadership isn’t about having all the answers — it’s about staying open to learning your way forward. Connect & Subscribe:Stay up to date with the Learning Leadership Network on Substack, and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts for future episodes in this series. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit davidreyes.substack.com

    7 min
  • 10 Episodes

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About

Hosted by David Reyes Learning Leadership: In Practice is a reflective podcast exploring leadership as a practice shaped by learning, experience, and honest reflection. Rooted in the concept of learning leadership, inspired by Learning Leadership, the show draws from books, teaching, leadership development work, and real-world experience to examine how leaders grow over time. Episodes include thoughtful reflections, limited series, and insights drawn from both leadership literature and unexpected places. This podcast is for leaders who believe growth does not stop with a title and who are committed to staying curious, continuing to learn, and leading with intention. davidreyes.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    Reflections on leadership, learning, and growth in practice.
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    10
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © David Reyes
  • Show Website
    Learning Leadership: In Practice