THE BOLT Podcast

Todd Bertsch
  • 5.0 (40)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The BOLT Podcast: Ignite Your Spark for Leadership, Growth, and Positive Transformation Welcome to The BOLT Podcast, the go-to personal growth and leadership development podcast for entrepreneurs, executives, HR professionals, and everyday leaders who want to ignite their spark, cultivate a growth mindset, and achieve lasting transformation. Hosted by Todd Bertsch—motivational keynote speaker, Positive Intelligence® (PQ) Mental Fitness Coach, entrepreneur, and CEO with over 16 years of leadership experience—this show delivers the energy, inspiration, and actionable strategies you need to thrive in work and life. Every episode of The BOLT is packed with practical tools for personal development, mindset mastery, emotional intelligence, and leadership growth. Todd and his world-class guests—bestselling authors, TEDx speakers, CEOs, athletes, educators, and nonprofit leaders—share authentic stories of resilience, reinvention, and curiosity-driven success. Together, they reveal how small shifts in mindset can spark massive results, both personally and professionally. If you’re looking for strategies to overcome fear and resistance to change, rewire negative thought patterns, and embrace a growth-oriented approach to leadership, The BOLT delivers exactly what you need. Listeners gain insight into: Leadership development & executive coaching: How leaders build cultures of resilience, curiosity, and connection.Positive Intelligence® tools: Science-backed methods for strengthening mental fitness, quieting inner saboteurs, and activating your Sage brain.Personal growth & mindset mastery: Transforming fixed thinking into growth-focused action.Corporate training & team performance: Strategies for building high-performing, mentally fit teams.Workplace well-being & productivity: Preventing burnout, reducing stress, and sustaining peak energy.Life transformation & self-leadership: Real stories of turning obstacles into opportunities and pain into purpose. Todd brings his unique blend of experience as a CEO, entrepreneur, coach, and motivational speaker to every conversation. After personally going through the Positive Intelligence® program and experiencing life-changing results backed by science and brain imaging, he built a thriving coaching and training practice. Today, he helps leaders and teams harness the power of mental fitness and mindset shifts to achieve clarity, resilience, and high performance. Through keynote speaking engagements, corporate training programs, and PQ coaching cohorts, Todd has empowered countless leaders and organizations to break free from self-doubt, embrace change with confidence, and build cultures of positivity and high performance. On The BOLT, he shares these same tools, stories, and strategies—free and accessible to anyone who wants to grow. Whether you’re a business owner navigating change, an executive leading through uncertainty, a team leader shaping culture, or simply someone passionate about becoming the best version of yourself, this podcast is your spark. Expect insightful interviews, motivational storytelling, and actionable steps that you can immediately apply to your work, relationships, and personal growth journey. ⚡ The BOLT Podcast: Where personal growth meets leadership transformation, and where every conversation helps you ignite the spark that changes everything.

  1. NOV 5

    The Curious Leader with Dave Loomis: Lessons from 10,000 Conversations

    In this episode of The BOLT Podcast, Dave Loomis, founder of Loomis Marketing and author of Customer Outsight, shares powerful lessons from conducting over 10,000 customer interviews. Drawing from decades of experience with Fortune 500 companies, Dave explores how curiosity, empathy, and active listening can transform leadership and organizational growth. Together, we unpack what it truly means to lead with outsight—seeing beyond yourself to better understand, connect, and inspire those you serve. What we discuss in this episode: Nonlinear career paths shaping service mindsetValue of executive coaching and accountabilityServant leadership as a growth advantageCustomer Outsight and the four Fs frameworkHow to plan and run open interviewsFinding gemstones and using AI for analysisTurning insights into clear messaging and offersLeadership lessons on integrity and initiativehttps://www.toddbertsch.com/podcast/the-curious-leader-with-dave-loomis Thanks for listening! We appreciate you. Follow us at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddmbertsch/ https://www.facebook.com/theboltwithtoddb https://www.instagram.com/theboltwithtoddb/ https://www.youtube.com/@theboltwithtoddb ⚡ Ready to ignite lasting transformation in your team or event? Book me for keynotes, corporate training, or Positive Intelligence® coaching at ToddBertsch.com

    59 min

  2. OCT 21

    First, Next, Only: Trailblazing Leadership with Justin Hilton

    In this powerful episode, Leadership Akron President and CEO Justin Hilton joins host Todd Bertsch to explore what it truly means to be a trailblazer. From his journey as the first African-American architect intern under Robert P. Madison to his leadership across higher education, corporate, and nonprofit sectors, Justin shares lessons on courage, context, and curiosity. He opens up about vulnerability, faith, mentorship, and the power of designing not just a career—but a life. A conversation filled with wisdom, humility, and hope for the next generation of leaders.  Discussion points from this episode: People over tasks as a transferable leadership principleBuilding a personal board for wisdom, peers, and serviceThe legacy of Robert P. Madison and the gift of beliefReframing sleep disorder and limits into resilienceRedefining success as who you become in pursuitUsing design thinking to architect your lifeArt, vulnerability, and meeting your past selfPractical steps to schedule your inner circleMental fitness tools for stress, clarity, and growthhttps://www.toddbertsch.com/podcast/trailblazing-leadership-with-justin-hilton Thanks for listening! We appreciate you. Follow us at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddmbertsch/ https://www.facebook.com/theboltwithtoddb https://www.instagram.com/theboltwithtoddb/ https://www.youtube.com/@theboltwithtoddb ⚡ Ready to ignite lasting transformation in your team or event? Book me for keynotes, corporate training, or Positive Intelligence® coaching at ToddBertsch.com

    1h 2m

  3. OCT 8

    Brain Health as a Leadership Advantage with Eric Collett

    What if what looks like “bad behavior” is really a brain problem, not a character flaw? In this episode, I sit down with Eric Collett, CEO of A Mind For All Seasons, to explore how energy, inflammation, and brain health shape our focus, mood, and leadership performance. We unpack why fixing your “hardware” matters more than adding new “software,” and how small, science-backed shifts—like improving sleep, managing stress, and fueling your brain right—can deliver life-changing results. Eric shares practical strategies anyone can start today, from “exercise snacks” and hormetic stressors to novel learning habits that forge new neural pathways. Whether you’re a caregiver, founder, or leader seeking clarity, this episode is your roadmap to peak performance now and lasting brain health for the future. Topics from this episode: Reframing behavior as a brain health signalDefining brain and cognitive health with simple languageRecognizing early symptoms vs normal agingHope-oriented care for dementia and caregiversHardware vs software: fixing energy before tacticsHormesis: cold, heat, fasting, strength for resilienceLifestyle pillars: sleep, exercise, novelty, stress masteryThe hidden role of dental health and inflammationBiomarkers that guide nutrition and supplementationBalancing rigidity with flexibility for consistencyCuriosity, better questions, and journalingWhy great fiction sharpens leadership and empathyThe enhanced protocol: measure, learn, apply, adjustThanks for listening! We appreciate you. Follow us at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddmbertsch/ https://www.facebook.com/theboltwithtoddb https://www.instagram.com/theboltwithtoddb/ https://www.youtube.com/@theboltwithtoddb ⚡ Ready to ignite lasting transformation in your team or event? Book me for keynotes, corporate training, or Positive Intelligence® coaching at ToddBertsch.com

    1h 10m

  4. SEP 24

    Inspiring the Next Generation of Leaders with Kemp Boyd

    Kemp Boyd, executive director, pastor, coach, and community leader, shares how true leadership comes not from what we do, but from who we are. Through powerful stories of resilience, mental health advocacy, and his HOT philosophy (Humble, Open, Transparent), Kemp reveals how authenticity, vulnerability, and mentorship can transform families, teams, and communities.  Moving from a "doing" culture to a "being" culture starts with understanding who you are firstTrue vulnerability means being the best version of yourself without concern for the outcomeManaging multiple roles requires intention, communication, and strong support systemsMental Health First Aid training equips leaders to recognize and respond to struggles in othersCoaching young men means addressing their emotional needs before athletic performancePain that isn't transformed gets transmitted to others - we must name our wounds to healBuilding bridges in communities means being willing to get "walked on by both sides"Self-care is essential - physical health directly impacts mental and emotional well-beingThe "HOT" leadership approach: Humble, Open, and Transparenthttps://www.toddbertsch.com/podcast/inspiring-the-next-generation-of-leaders-with-kemp-boyd Thanks for listening! We appreciate you. Follow us at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddmbertsch/ https://www.facebook.com/theboltwithtoddb https://www.instagram.com/theboltwithtoddb/ https://www.youtube.com/@theboltwithtoddb ⚡ Ready to ignite lasting transformation in your team or event? Book me for keynotes, corporate training, or Positive Intelligence® coaching at ToddBertsch.com

    1h 7m

  5. SEP 10

    How to Reclaim Who You’ve Always Been with Natalie Siston

    Todd and Natalie dive into Positive Intelligence (PQ) as a practical operating system for mental fitness—using the pause to shift from negative reactivity to wise response. Natalie traces her journey from Silicon Valley and the Fortune 100 to entrepreneurship, shares the origin of her bestselling book Let Her Out, and explains how pausing, presence, and rediscovering what you loved as a kid unlock confidence and authentic leadership. The episode closes with a guided two-minute PQ practice that listeners can replay anytime. Insights & takeaways Mental fitness, defined: PQ = your ability to respond to life’s challenges with a positive (not negative) mindset; it’s trainable through daily reps, not toxic positivity.The power of the pause: Build an internal “pause button” to create space between trigger and response (Viktor Frankl), reducing reactivity at work and at home.Hot-stove metaphor: Feel negative emotion briefly as a signal—then remove your “hand” and shift with a 10-second sensory PQ rep (breath, fingertip ridges, sounds).Sage perspective: Train yourself to eventually find the gift and opportunity in any situation; it’s a long game, not an instant reframe.Let Her Out, the movement: Born from old journals and a rejected TEDx pitch → became a keynote, a book, and now live events helping overtaxed women pause and reconnect.Coaching theme Natalie sees: Leaders often forget what’s truly important to them; clarity work restores confidence and opens doors to the right opportunities.Ask for support: Advocate for company-sponsored coaching; confidentiality (ICF ethics) enables deeper, more transformative conversations.Practical prompt: “What did you love doing when you were younger that you’re not doing today?”—then schedule one small action to reintroduce it.Team benefit: Raising individual joy and presence lifts performance, relationships, and resilience across the organization.Resources mentioned: Positive Intelligence (program/app), The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks; 4-H’s “head, heart, hands, health” as Natalie’s early leadership roots.Do-along moment: A replayable, two-minute guided PQ practice at the end of the episode to restore calm and focus.https://www.toddbertsch.com/podcast/how-to-reclaim-who-youve-always-been-with-natalie-siston Thanks for listening! We appreciate you. Follow us at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddmbertsch/ https://www.facebook.com/theboltwithtoddb https://www.instagram.com/theboltwithtoddb/ https://www.youtube.com/@theboltwithtoddb ⚡ Ready to ignite lasting transformation in your team or event? Book me for keynotes, corporate training, or Positive Intelligence® coaching at ToddBertsch.com

    1 hr

  6. AUG 27

    The Go-Giver Way: Leadership, Influence, and Lasting Success with Bob Burg

    In this inspiring BOLT Podcast episode, Bob Burg—Hall of Fame speaker and coauthor of the international bestseller The Go-Giver—shares timeless lessons on leadership, influence, and success. From overcoming 24 publisher rejections to building a worldwide movement translated into 30+ languages, Bob emphasizes that sustainable success comes from authenticity, providing immense value, and leading with heart. Drawing wisdom from mentors like Dale Carnegie, Zig Ziglar, and his own father, Bob reveals that giving is not only the key to business growth but also to living a meaningful life.  Highlights from the episode: Bob Burg and co-author John David Mann faced 24 rejections before their first Go-Giver book found a publisherThe Go-Giver series focuses on shifting from a getting mindset to a giving mindset as a way of achieving successBob's father was his first influence on understanding people skills and genuine care for othersThe Go-Giver Leader (originally titled "It's Not About You") demonstrates how title and positioning impact book salesEarly adopters of the Go-Giver philosophy were already practicing these principles but needed the book to validate their approachSustainable success comes from being laser-focused on providing value to othersBob's life motto: "Do your best to make everyone feel genuinely good about themselves."Leadership lesson from the book: "You can only lead as far as you can grow"https://www.toddbertsch.com/podcast/episode-42-the-go-giver-way-with-bob-burg/ Thanks for listening! We appreciate you. Follow us at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddmbertsch/ https://www.facebook.com/theboltwithtoddb https://www.instagram.com/theboltwithtoddb/ https://www.youtube.com/@theboltwithtoddb ⚡ Ready to ignite lasting transformation in your team or event? Book me for keynotes, corporate training, or Positive Intelligence® coaching at ToddBertsch.com

    37 min

  7. AUG 13

    Embracing Imperfection: Why Perfection Kills Progress

    In this episode, we uncover how perfectionism can be a major obstacle to authentic leadership and growth. We explore the psychology behind perfectionism, how a fixed mindset stifles innovation, and introduce Positive Intelligence’s saboteurs like the Controller and Hyperachiever. Learn the beauty of wabi-sabi and discover practical strategies to shift from perfectionism to progress, including lessons from Thomas Edison’s failures and Seth Godin's MVP approach. The challenge: release a project you’ve been holding back because it's not perfect enough and take that first step toward growth. Highlights from this episode: Perfection stifles creativity, risk-taking, and innovationFixed mindset links perfectionism to viewing mistakes as failuresPerfectionism creates a leadership environment that discourages failure and innovationWabi-sabi celebrates beauty in imperfection and life's natural cyclesThe Controller and Hyperachiever saboteurs drive perfectionism, but can be overcomeEdison’s 10,000 light bulb failures show how failure fuels innovationFour strategies to overcome perfectionism: progress, failure, experimentation, self-compassionImperfect work (MVP model) is better than waiting for perfectionhttps://www.toddbertsch.com/podcast/episode-41-embracing-imperfection-why-perfection-kills-progress/ Thanks for listening! We appreciate you. Follow us at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddmbertsch/ https://www.facebook.com/theboltwithtoddb https://www.instagram.com/theboltwithtoddb/ https://www.youtube.com/@theboltwithtoddb ⚡ Ready to ignite lasting transformation in your team or event? Book me for keynotes, corporate training, or Positive Intelligence® coaching at ToddBertsch.com

    20 min

  8. JUL 28

    Love-Centered Leadership: Transforming Lives & Businesses with Carolyn Cooper

    Carolyn Cooper shares her life-changing journey from young sales professional to love-inspired leadership expert, revealing how bringing authentic love to business transforms organizations and leaders. Her powerful approach integrates decades of wisdom into practical frameworks that help individuals unleash their true potential and lead from the heart. Highlights from this episode: Operating from the highest vibration of love creates flow, ease, and meaningful connectionPerfectionism kills progress—releasing control leads to freedom and deeper alignment with purposeThe Aim High System offers six powerful steps to transform leadership: truth, trust, value, vision, presence, and celebrationOvercoming fear requires finding a personally meaningful reason that motivates changeLeading with love isn't soft—it's the most powerful approach to creating sustainable successSmall, consistent shifts in mindset and behavior create transformational change over timeBuilding a support system is essential—we need others to see our truth and hold us accountablehttps://www.toddbertsch.com/podcast/episode-40-love-centered-leadership-transforming-lives-businesses-with-carolyn-cooper/ Thanks for listening! We appreciate you. Follow us at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddmbertsch/ https://www.facebook.com/theboltwithtoddb https://www.instagram.com/theboltwithtoddb/ https://www.youtube.com/@theboltwithtoddb ⚡ Ready to ignite lasting transformation in your team or event? Book me for keynotes, corporate training, or Positive Intelligence® coaching at ToddBertsch.com

    1h 2m
See All (47)

5
out of 5
40 Ratings

About

The BOLT Podcast: Ignite Your Spark for Leadership, Growth, and Positive Transformation Welcome to The BOLT Podcast, the go-to personal growth and leadership development podcast for entrepreneurs, executives, HR professionals, and everyday leaders who want to ignite their spark, cultivate a growth mindset, and achieve lasting transformation. Hosted by Todd Bertsch—motivational keynote speaker, Positive Intelligence® (PQ) Mental Fitness Coach, entrepreneur, and CEO with over 16 years of leadership experience—this show delivers the energy, inspiration, and actionable strategies you need to thrive in work and life. Every episode of The BOLT is packed with practical tools for personal development, mindset mastery, emotional intelligence, and leadership growth. Todd and his world-class guests—bestselling authors, TEDx speakers, CEOs, athletes, educators, and nonprofit leaders—share authentic stories of resilience, reinvention, and curiosity-driven success. Together, they reveal how small shifts in mindset can spark massive results, both personally and professionally. If you’re looking for strategies to overcome fear and resistance to change, rewire negative thought patterns, and embrace a growth-oriented approach to leadership, The BOLT delivers exactly what you need. Listeners gain insight into: Leadership development & executive coaching: How leaders build cultures of resilience, curiosity, and connection.Positive Intelligence® tools: Science-backed methods for strengthening mental fitness, quieting inner saboteurs, and activating your Sage brain.Personal growth & mindset mastery: Transforming fixed thinking into growth-focused action.Corporate training & team performance: Strategies for building high-performing, mentally fit teams.Workplace well-being & productivity: Preventing burnout, reducing stress, and sustaining peak energy.Life transformation & self-leadership: Real stories of turning obstacles into opportunities and pain into purpose. Todd brings his unique blend of experience as a CEO, entrepreneur, coach, and motivational speaker to every conversation. After personally going through the Positive Intelligence® program and experiencing life-changing results backed by science and brain imaging, he built a thriving coaching and training practice. Today, he helps leaders and teams harness the power of mental fitness and mindset shifts to achieve clarity, resilience, and high performance. Through keynote speaking engagements, corporate training programs, and PQ coaching cohorts, Todd has empowered countless leaders and organizations to break free from self-doubt, embrace change with confidence, and build cultures of positivity and high performance. On The BOLT, he shares these same tools, stories, and strategies—free and accessible to anyone who wants to grow. Whether you’re a business owner navigating change, an executive leading through uncertainty, a team leader shaping culture, or simply someone passionate about becoming the best version of yourself, this podcast is your spark. Expect insightful interviews, motivational storytelling, and actionable steps that you can immediately apply to your work, relationships, and personal growth journey. ⚡ The BOLT Podcast: Where personal growth meets leadership transformation, and where every conversation helps you ignite the spark that changes everything.

Information

  • Creator
    Todd Bertsch
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    47
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 THE BOLT Podcast
  • Show Website
    THE BOLT Podcast