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 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
  2. 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
  3. Ep 21 – Rachel Downey on EOS, leadership & listening to your inner voice

    MAR 31

    Ep 21 – Rachel Downey on EOS, leadership & listening to your inner voice

    Ryan Castle sits down with Rachel Downey, EOS Implementer and founder of Guide Studio, to explore the deeply human side of entrepreneurship: what happens when success on the outside doesn’t match how you feel on the inside. Rachel shares three powerful insights from her journey: the loneliness that can come with leadership, the importance of listening to the “quiet voice” that signals when something needs to change, and why investing in yourself is the most impactful investment an entrepreneur can make. She opens up about moments of feeling lost despite running a thriving business, the pivotal role of community through EO, and how implementing EOS helped her build leaders within her company and step into a bigger vision. This episode is for founders, leaders, and high achievers who feel stuck, stretched, or disconnected. If you’re navigating growth, searching for clarity, or ready to evolve into your next level of leadership, Rachel’s story offers both reassurance and a practical path forward. Useful links: Connect with Rachel Downey on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/racheldowney/https://www.rachelbizguide.com/ 👉 Resource: lvl10.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/

    33 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.