300 episodes

If you believe as I do, that intentional and consistent reading is key to success in business and in life, then this is your podcast. My goal each week is to bring you key thoughts and insights from my conversations with those I consider to be among today's brightest minds: our generation's non-fiction authors. We discuss their latest book, as well as their unique perspectives on Leadership, Business, Personal Development, Marketing, Career, and Entrepreneurship. If you love reading, or desire to do more of it, then consider this podcast your audio Cliff's Notes. The Read to Lead Podcast is a four-time Best Business Podcast nominee.

Read to Lead Podcast Jeff Brown

    • Business
    • 4.9 • 497 Ratings

If you believe as I do, that intentional and consistent reading is key to success in business and in life, then this is your podcast. My goal each week is to bring you key thoughts and insights from my conversations with those I consider to be among today's brightest minds: our generation's non-fiction authors. We discuss their latest book, as well as their unique perspectives on Leadership, Business, Personal Development, Marketing, Career, and Entrepreneurship. If you love reading, or desire to do more of it, then consider this podcast your audio Cliff's Notes. The Read to Lead Podcast is a four-time Best Business Podcast nominee.

    467: Success Starts With Your Thinking with Mind Your Mindset Author Megan Hyatt Miller

    467: Success Starts With Your Thinking with Mind Your Mindset Author Megan Hyatt Miller

    The last time today’s guest appeared (which was also her first time), I wrote that I hoped it wouldn’t be her last. Well, lucky for you and me, my hopes were not in vein. I’m talking, of course, about Full Focus CEO, Megan Hyatt Miller.













    Her new book, cowritten with her father Michael Hyatt, is called Mind Your Mindset: The Science That Shows Success Starts with Your Thinking.







    With the book, they pose the question, “Do you trust the voice in your head?”







    Our brains are remarkable, no doubt. They subconsciously translate the events around us into meaningful storylines that inform what we think and how we live. The problem is, the stories our minds feed us as facts aren’t always true.







    Worse, these stories turn into false beliefs about others, the world, and ourselves that keep us from our true potential.







    These limiting beliefs confront us all. But what if you could harness your brain’s operating system to tell a new story? Not just any story. A true story that empowers you to overcome limitations and surpass your goals.







    Drawing upon the latest insights in performance psychology, neuroscience, and cognitive science, as well as case studies from their own clients, Megan and her New York Times bestselling dad Michael Hyatt, outline a framework we can follow to test our own assumptions and start living better, truer stories that shape superior outcomes in business and life.







    Intrigued? Click the play button below to learn more about Megan and her new book.







    Join in on our chat below















    Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS















    In today’s episode, I ask Megan to share:









    * The journey that led her to learn everything she could about neuroscience







    * The two kinds of memory and how our brains shape our stories







    * How to challenge your brain’s narrator in order to separate fact from fiction







    * And lots more!









    Megan’s New Book







    Order you copy of Mind Your Mindset: The Science Shows That Success Starts With Your Thinking right now!







    Consider Ordering My Book!







    Purchase a copy of my new book (written with Jesse Wisnewski) Read to Lead: The Simple Habit That Expands Your Influence and Boosts Your Career. There, you can also download the introduction and first chapter for free!







    Join Note-Making Mastery Cohort the self-paced edition now!







    Get all the details here (space is limited)!

    • 41 min
    466: Transform How You Talk, Listen, and Interact with Chuck Wisner

    466: Transform How You Talk, Listen, and Interact with Chuck Wisner

    If there’s one area everyone of us can improve in, it’s the area of communication. I’ve talked with dozens of communication experts over the years. And I’d put Chuck Wisner at the top of my list.













    His new book is called The Art of Conscious Conversations: Transforming How We Talk, Listen, and Interact.







    The book is a practical guide for thoughtfully reflecting on conversations so we can avoid the common pitfalls that cause our relationships and work to go sideways. Chuck identifies four universal types of conversations and offers specific advice on maximizing the effectiveness of each:









    * Storytelling—Investigate the stories we tell ourselves about ourselves and others







    * Collaborative—Explore the way our stories and other people’s stories interact







    * Creative—See new possibilities and discover unforeseen solutions







    * Commitment—Make promises we know we can keep









    These conversations unfold sequentially: our awareness of our and others’ stories transforms our ability to listen and collaborate, which opens our thoughts to creative possibilities, guiding us toward mindful agreements.







    Our conversations—at home, at work, or in public—can be sources of pleasure and stepping-stones toward success, or they can cause pain and lead to failure. Wisner shows how we can form a connection from the very first conversation and keep our discourse positive and productive throughout any endeavor.







    Intrigued? Click the play button below to learn more about Chuck and his new book.







    Join in on our chat below















    Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS















    In today’s episode, I ask Chuck to share:









    * How our own patterned thinking and reactions set us up oftentimes for stressful conversations







    * What our habit of thinking one thing while saying something else is doing to us and how to stop it







    * How to approach conversations with people from differing points of view more productively







    * And lots more!









    Chuck’s New Book







    Order you copy of The Art of Conscious Conversations: Transforming How We Talk, Listen, and Interact right now!







    Consider Ordering My Book!







    Purchase a copy of my new book (written with Jesse Wisnewski) Read to Lead: The Simple Habit That Expands Your Influence and Boosts Your Career. There, you can also download the introduction and first chapter for free!







    Join Note-Making Mastery Cohort the self-paced edition now!

    • 33 min
    465: What to Say to Get Your Way with NYT Bestselling Author Jonah Berger

    465: What to Say to Get Your Way with NYT Bestselling Author Jonah Berger

    At the beginning of this year, in Episode 456, I highlighted the six books I’m most looking forward to in the first half of 2023. I hope to feature all six here on the podcast. The first was featured in late January (Attention Span by Dr. Gloria Mark).













    I’m excited to share that the second book on that list is being featured today. It’s from Wharton Professor Jonah Berger and is called Magic Words: What to Say to Get Your Way.







    In Magic Words, Jonah gives you an inside look at the new science of language and how you can use it. Technological advances in machine learning, computational linguistics, and natural language processing, combined with the digitization of everything from cover letters to conversations, have yielded unprecedented insights.







    You’ll learn how salespeople convince clients, lawyers persuade juries, and storytellers captivate audiences; how teachers get kids to help and service representatives increase customer satisfaction; how startup founders secure funding, musicians make hits, and psychologists identified a Shakespearean manuscript without ever reading a play.







    This book is designed for anyone who wants to increase their impact. It provides a powerful toolkit and actionable techniques that can lead to extraordinary results. Whether you’re trying to persuade a client, motivate a team, or get a whole organization to see things differently, this book will show you how to leverage the power of magic words.







    Intrigued? Click the play button below to learn more about Jonah and his new book.







    Join in on our chat below















    Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS















    In today’s episode, I ask Jonah to share:









    * What it looks like in practice to turn actions into identities and why it matters







    * How changing a single word within your vocabulary can invite divergent thinking into your decision process







    * Some of the advantages to asking questions, and how to know which questions are the right ones to ask 







    * And lots more!









    Jonah’s New Book







    Order you copy of Magic Words: What to Say to Get Your Way right now!







    Consider Ordering My Book!







    Purchase a copy of my new book (written with Jesse Wisnewski) Read to Lead: The Simple Habit That Expands Your Influence and Boosts Your Career. There, you can also download the introduction and first chapter for free!







    Join Note-Making Mastery Cohort the self-paced edition now!







    Get all the details here (space is limi...

    • 39 min
    464: The Power of Clarity with Ann Latham

    464: The Power of Clarity with Ann Latham

    In 2021, when my book was released, I was invited shortly after to speak to a group at LinkedIn. LinkedIn staff were kicking off year two of their book club, and had chosen to do so with Read to Lead.













    My invitation to join that group came from Dan Horowitz, LinkedIn’s senior director of LinkedIn ads. It was a great experience.







    Dan reached out last year and introduced me to author Ann Latham. Ann has written several books and hundreds of articles over the years. I had her on about 10 weeks ago to discuss her book called The Disconnect Principle: Eliminate Difficult Conversations with Clarity and Empathy.







    Today, I’ve invited her back to talk about her modern-day classic, released in 2021, called The Power of Clarity: Unleash the True Potential of Workplace Productivity, Confidence, and Empowerment.







    In The Power of Clarity, Ann Latham exposes the unrecognized confusion and explains how to eliminate it. This fascinating guide to workplace productivity and effectiveness draws upon extensive research and case studies to demonstrate how you can get better results in far less time while also increasing confidence and commitment.







    Intrigued? Click the play button below to learn more about Ann and her book.







    Join in on our chat below















    Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS















    In today’s episode, I ask Ann to share:









    * Clarity blindness, and how it prevents us from recognizing the everyday things that cost us







    * Why clarity in-the-moment is more important than big-picture clarity







    * The biggest enemies of focus in the workplace (i’m guessing you have a few ideas) 







    * And lots more!









    Get Ann’s Book







    Order you copy of The Power of Clarity: Unleash the True Potential of Workplace Productivity Confidence, and Empowerment right now!







    Consider Ordering My Book!







    Purchase a copy of my new book (written with Jesse Wisnewski) Read to Lead: The Simple Habit That Expands Your Influence and Boosts Your Career. There, you can also download the introduction and first chapter for free!







    Join Note-Making Mastery Cohort the self-paced edition now!







    Get all the details here (space is limited)!







    Books Ann Recommends















    Check Out These Additional Resources

    • 27 min
    463: Redefining What It Means to Sell with Colin Coggins and Garrett Brown

    463: Redefining What It Means to Sell with Colin Coggins and Garrett Brown

    My guests today ask the question, “What if the greatest salespeople on the planet are the opposite of who you think they are?”













    Everyone sells, every day. It’s why the most successful people are better than most at selling themselves, their ideas, or their products. Yet when people hear the word “sales” they think of an overly confident, articulate extrovert at best, or, worse, a pushy, know-it-all huckster.







    In part, because of these misperceptions, when they find themselves in a situation where they need to sell, they feel compelled to put on the persona of a “good salesperson.” But there’s a disconnect between who we think good salespeople are and who they actually are.







    In any room, they’re not the most self-confident, they’re the most self-aware. They’re not the most sociable, they’re the most socially aware. And they don’t succeed in spite of obstacles, they succeed because of obstacles. The Unsold Mindset reveals a counterintuitive approach to not just selling, but life. This book is not about “building rapport,” “objection handling,” or “trial closes.” It’s a journey toward an entirely new mindset — because the greatest sellers on the planet aren’t successful because of what they do, they’re successful because of what they think. Being a good person and a good salesperson aren’t mutually exclusive. The Unsold Mindset will change the way you think about selling and the way you think about yourself.







    I hope you’ll click the play button below to learn more about Colin, Garret and their work. For a summary, just keep scrolling.







    Join in on our chat below















    Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS















    In today’s episode, I ask Colin and Garrett about:









    * Why they say the worst fault in selling is to be disingenuous







    * How to deal with setbacks and why you have to be a learner to have an unsold mindset







    * How to create “moments of transformation”, not just transactional experiences  







    * And lots more!









    Order Colin and Garrett’s Book







    You can order your copy of The Unsold Mindset: Redefining What It Means to Sell right now!







    Consider Ordering My New Book Too!







    Purchase a copy of my new book (written with Jesse Wisnewski) Read to Lead: The Simple Habit That Expands Your Influence and Boosts Your Career. There, you can also download the introduction and first chapter for free!







    Note-Making Mastery Cohort







    Get notified when I open up my next a href="http://readtoleadpodcast.com/list" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" t...

    • 49 min
    462: Make More Sales, Build Loyal Relationships, and Make More Money with Jen Gitomer

    462: Make More Sales, Build Loyal Relationships, and Make More Money with Jen Gitomer

    I have my friend Honorée Corder to thank again for this week’s guest. She’s always helping to introduce me to new and interesting people.













    The latest person on that list is Jen Gitomer. In 2019, she published the book we’re focusing on today.







    It’s called Sales in a New York Minute: Make More Sales, Build Loyal Relationships, and Make More Money.







    You’ve heard the term ”…in a New York minute,” and you have your own ideas of what it means. Jennifer defines it as ”fast, clear, direct, and successful.” That’s the way of New York, and it’s the way sales are made (or lost) in New York City, and everywhere else on the planet.







    She grew up in a successful book manufacturing family business run by her parents. Their dinner table conversations were a MBA real-world business education years before she graduated from the Olin School of Business at Washington University in St. Louis.







    Jennifer is a speaker, trainer, writer, blogger, Facebooker, Instagrammer, Tweeter, podcaster and YouTuber. She is online and on the money, and her mission is to teach you how to make it anywhere.







    I hope you’ll click the play button below to learn more about Jen and her work. For a summary, just keep scrolling.







    Join in on our chat below















    Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS















    In today’s episode, I ask Jen about:









    * Her practice for successfully maximize and master our thinking effectiveness







    * Here networking values and the differences between networking and targeted networking







    * What she means when she says, “value-based selling begins with video-based selling?” 







    * And lots more!









    Order Jen’s Book







    You can order your copy of Sales in a New York Minute: Make More Sales, Build Loyal Relationships, and Make More Money right now!







    Consider Ordering My New Book Too!







    Purchase a copy of my new book (written with Jesse Wisnewski) Read to Lead: The Simple Habit That Expands Your Influence and Boosts Your Career. There, you can also download the introduction and first chapter for free!







    Note-Making Mastery Cohort







    Get notified when I open up my next Note-Making Mastery Cohort for registration (space is limited)!







    Jen in Action



















    Books Jen Recommends

    • 47 min

Customer Reviews

4.9 out of 5
497 Ratings

497 Ratings

Miriam Schulman ,

such a great interviewer

jeff takes me on the interview journey. learning so much from this podcast

@schulmanArt host of The Inspiration Place podcast and author of the book Artpreneur

Robbiepolitico ,

No solutions for distractions

I like this show but the episode about fighting distractions was 45 minutes describing the problem—that everything is even worse than we realize, with no helpful tips. Took out the earbuds feeling bleak and hopeless.

@coachpatrickv ,

Always provides motivation and inspiration

I have been listening to this podcast for over three years and always walk away inspired to do more in my own work. Thank you for what you do.

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