Podcasts · Business

Leadership Unlocked: How Wise Leaders Win in an Era of AI

Dusty Holcomb, Leadership Systems & Delegation Expert

84 episodes

AI isn't making leadership less important. It's making great leadership more valuable and exposing the flaws of leaders who aren't ready.

More about the show

Leadership Unlocked explores what it takes to lead well in the age of AI. Hosted by Leadership Consultant, Author, Keynote Speaker and Leadership Strategist Dusty Holcomb, the podcast explores the intersection of AI and leadership, helping CEOs, founders, and senior leaders understand how artificial intelligence is changing the way they lead, make decisions, build teams, and get work done.

AI can amplify a great leader or magnify the weaknesses of a bad one. Each episode explores AI adoption and the leadership skills that AI can't replace: judgment, wisdom, discernment, accountability, and the ability to lead people through change.

Dusty explores AI leadership, AI adoption, AI for leaders, executive leadership, leadership development, AI strategy, AI decision-making, leading AI teams, and the future of leadership.

Whether you're trying to stay relevant in the age of AI, figuring out how to use AI to become a better leader, or navigating what AI means for your team and organization, Leadership Unlocked will help you lead with greater clarity and confidence.

“Although the work is increasingly done by machines, the wisdom is still human.”

Episodes page 1 of 2

  1. AI Has Made Intelligence Available for Leaders on Demand—But Not Judgment | Nick Machol - E83

    · 1 h 04 min · S1 E83

    Dusty sits down with Nick Macholl, co-founder of Unburdn, for a practical conversation about what artificial intelligence actually means for leaders and why adopting the technology effectively has far less to do with…

  2. AI Is Making Us Faster—But It's Also Draining Our Attention - E82

    · 20 min · S1 E82

    Dusty goes solo to challenge the belief that every available moment should be filled with productive work, arguing that in an age when AI can operate endlessly, leaders must intentionally create the stopping points…

  3. The Best Leaders Stand at the Finish Line—Here’s Why | Mike Reilly - E81

    · 54 min · S1 E81

    Dusty sits down with Mike Reilly, the longtime voice of Ironman, for an inspiring conversation about perseverance, recognition, and what it means to help others find their finish line. After calling nearly half a…

  4. You Built a Successful Business. Why Are You Still Trapped in It? | Forrest Derr - E80

    · 47 min · S1 E80

    Dusty sits down with Forrest for a practical conversation about scaling founder-led businesses, developing leaders, and building the systems that allow owners to finally get out of the middle of everything. Drawing…

  5. You’re Not Supposed to Be a Technician—But You Need to Know THIS to Lead AI - E79

    · 28 min · S1 E79

    Dusty goes solo to confront the “qualification lie”—the belief that leaders need deep technical expertise to lead effectively in the age of AI. Drawing from his lifelong “magnificent obsession” with leadership, nearly…

  6. AI Has Made “Good” the Standard—Yet “Great” Leaders Are Truly Irreplaceable - E78

    · 26 min · S1 E78

    Dusty goes solo to explain why he shelved a finished leadership manuscript and started over with Ancient Intelligence, a book built around a realization he had spent more than a year resisting: leaders do not need to…

  7. AI Didn't Create Your Leadership Gap—It Just Made It Urgent - E77

    · 31 min · S1 E77

    Dusty goes solo to make the case that the leaders who thrive in the age of AI will not be the ones chasing every new tool, but the ones who apply timeless leadership principles with greater focus and intention.…

  8. Everyone's Telling You to Use AI; Nobody's Telling You How | Charlene Li - E76

    · 1 h 02 min · S1 E76

    Charlene Li joins Dusty to explore what decades of navigating disruption can teach leaders about the rapidly evolving age of AI. Drawing on her experience at Forrester, founding Altimeter, and advising executives…

  9. Define Done: Outcome Blocking Is Key to Enhancing Your Impact - E75

    · 26 min · S1 E75

    Dusty challenges leaders to rethink the way they protect and use their time, arguing that time blocking is only the first step and that the real return comes from defining the outcome before the clock starts. He…

  10. He Went From Leading 7 People to 80—Now His Team Solves Problems Without Him | Rodney Binger - E74

    · 40 min · S1 E74

    Stepping into a larger leadership role can expose gaps in confidence, clarity, and execution—even for experienced operators. Rodney Binger shares how intentionally sharpening his leadership capabilities transformed the…

  11. How Great Leaders Balance Empathy with High Standards | Marcel Schwantes - E73

    · 42 min · S1 E73

    Marcel Schwantes’ journey into human-centered leadership began with a toxic workplace that pushed his body to its breaking point and ultimately led him to discover the power of servant leadership. In this conversation,…

  12. What Data-Driven Leaders Get Wrong About Making Decisions | Shane Foye - E72

    · 58 min · S1 E72

    Shane Foye joins Dusty for a thoughtful conversation about the kind of leadership that can't be rushed. As the second-generation president of DW1, Shane shares how leading a growing family business has taught him that…

  13. The Fastest Way to Kill Buy-In Is Your Own Good Idea | Dave Garrison - E71

    · 41 min · S1 E71

    Dusty sits down with Dave Garrison, former multinational CEO, board director, and author of The Buy-In Advantage, to explore why most organizations are leaving enormous human potential untapped. Dave explains the…

  14. The Leadership Skill AI Can’t Replace | Kurt Luidhardt - E70

    · 1 h 02 min · S1 E70

    Dusty sits down with Kurt Luidhardt, entrepreneur, political strategist, and co-founder of a firm that has helped elect more than 100 members of Congress, 15 senators, 14 governors, and a president. Kurt shares the…

  15. In the Era of AI, Your Personal Brand Matters More Than Ever | Bryan Wish - E69

    · 50 min · S1 E69

    Dusty sits down with Bryan Wish for a thoughtful conversation about personal branding, authentic leadership, and why every professional—not just entrepreneurs or executives—needs to intentionally shape how they show up…

  16. The Leadership Mistake That Looks Like Delegation | David Stupay - E68

    · 52 min · S1 E68

    Dusty sits down with David Stupay, five-time CEO, executive recruiter, and founder of Platinum Search Partners, for a deeply human conversation about the relationships, experiences, and values that shape exceptional…

  17. Escaping the Prison of Prior Conditioning | George Bryant - E67

    · 1 h 09 min · S1 E67

    Dusty sits down with George Bryant for a deeply personal and thought-provoking conversation about identity, faith, leadership, and the lifelong pursuit of becoming who you were created to be. Drawing from a journey…

  18. Most People Use AI Like Software. That's the Problem - E66

    · 21 min · S1 E66

    Dusty goes solo to challenge one of the biggest misconceptions leaders have about AI: that it should be managed like software rather than led like a person. Building on the themes of recent episodes about identifying…

  19. Stop Being the Leader with All the Answers - E65

    · 18 min · S1 E65

    Dusty goes solo to explore a leadership skill that becomes exponentially more valuable in the age of AI: the ability to reveal insight rather than provide answers. Building on a conversation with a highly respected CEO…

  20. The Problem Isn't AI—It's What You're Using It For - E64

    · 16 min · S1 E64

    Dusty goes solo to challenge the growing obsession with AI tools and argues that the leaders who will thrive in the next decade are not the ones chasing every new platform, but the ones who remain relentlessly focused…

  21. SWAT Negotiator Teaches Active Listening Tactics Every Leader Needs to Learn | Jessi Beyer - E63

    · 48 min · S1 E63

    Dusty sits down with Jessi Beyer for a deeply human and highly tactical conversation about suicide prevention, emotional awareness, and the leadership responsibility to truly see the people around you. Drawing from her…

  22. AI Is Exposing Weak Leadership Faster Than Ever—Here’s Why - E62

    · 22 min · S1 E62

    Dusty goes solo for the one-year anniversary to tackle one of the biggest misconceptions leaders are facing in the age of AI—that better tools automatically create better organizations. Drawing from conversations with…

  23. The Secret Behind Predictable Revenue Growth Is This One Culture Shift | Alex Goldfayn - E61

    · 1 h 03 min · S1 E61

    Dusty sits down with Alex Goldfayn for a practical and mindset-shifting conversation about proactive growth, everyday discipline, and why most leaders dramatically underutilize the opportunities already sitting inside…

  24. The 3 Archetypes That Turn Leaders Into Bottlenecks (And Why You Won’t Ask for Help) - E60

    · 17 min · S1 E60

    Dusty challenges one of the most ingrained—and damaging—habits in high-performing leaders: carrying everything themselves. Sparked by a blunt moment with a mentor who reframed not asking for help as “stealing…

  25. Solve the Problem People Feel, Not Just the Problem You See | Mike “Cashflow Mike” Milan - E59

    · 43 min · S1 E59

    Dusty sits down with Mike Milan, widely known as “Cashflow Mike,” for a high-impact conversation on leadership, communication, and the hidden power of financial clarity in business. From an unconventional start as a…

  26. The Most Selfish Thing Great Leaders Never Do (But Should) - E58

    · 17 min · S1 E58

    Dusty goes solo to confront a subtle but damaging misconception at the heart of servant leadership—the belief that focusing on yourself somehow takes away from serving others—and argues the opposite: failing to lead…

  27. Why Slowing Down Might Be the Most Productive Thing You Do | Jacob Karnes - E57

    · 46 min · S1 E57

    Dusty sits down with Jacob Karnes—leadership coach, author of Master Your First Job, and former Chick-fil-A leadership development professional—for a conversation about turning early career opportunities into the…

  28. Work-Life Balance Is a Myth—Ask Yourself These 3 Questions Instead - E56

    · 19 min · S1 E56

    Dusty goes solo to dismantle one of leadership’s most persistent myths—that work-life balance is something you can achieve and maintain—and replaces it with a more honest and actionable model: balancing as a daily…

  29. Are You Tired of Being Tired as a Leader? | Eric Collett - E55

    · 1 h 10 min · S1 E55

    Dusty sits down with Eric Collette, CEO of A Mind for All Seasons, for a wide-ranging and deeply practical conversation on how leaders can optimize brain health to sustain performance, extend longevity, and lead more…

  30. Tired of Your Team Always Guessing What You Want? Build This | AMA #2 - E54

    · 30 min · S1 E54

    Dusty goes solo in an AMA-style episode to break down how leaders can actually implement the Rules of Engagement framework introduced in episode 27, turning a powerful concept into a practical operating system for…

  31. The Seven Issues Behind 95% of Leadership Pain | Dorothy & Garland Vance - E53

    · 59 min · S1 E53

    Dusty sits down with Garland and Dorothy Vance—co-founders of Unleashed Leadership—for a candid and insightful conversation about the difference between being remembered as a hero or a villain in the lives of those you…

  32. Why Leaders Feel Busy but Not Effective: Attention Residue, Unspoken Expectations, and the Fix - E52

    · 20 min · S1 E52

    Dusty goes solo to unpack the invisible forces silently sabotaging even the most capable leaders—overwhelm, reactive schedules, and misaligned priorities. Anchoring his discussion in the stark warning from Levi…

  33. If You Want Loyalty From Your Team, Start Here | Dawn Grooters - E51

    · 49 min · S1 E51

    Dusty sits down with Dawn Grooters—founder of Broken Vessel Sales Solutions—for a deeply personal and practical conversation about servant leadership, resilience, and the power of authentic connection in sales. After…

  34. 10 Questions That Change How You Lead | AMA #1 - E50

    · 36 min · S1 E50

    In this milestone 50th episode, Dusty flips the mic toward the community and tackles the most persistent questions leaders have been sending his way—ranging from work-life balance and delegation to AI strategy,…

  35. How Should Leaders Communicate the Kind Truth With Their Team | Mo Fathelbab - E49

    · 50 min · S1 E49

    Dusty sits down with Mo Fathelbab—former CEO, executive coach, and author of Forum—for a candid conversation about the transformative power of vulnerability in leadership. Drawing on his experience leading YPO forums…

  36. Build Better Decisions Using Self-Awareness Others Ignore | Liesl Chang - E48

    · 55 min · S1 E48

    Dusty sits down with Liesl Chang—entrepreneur, systems thinker, and founder of Comeback Goods—for a wide-ranging conversation that explores how self-awareness, curiosity, and disciplined systems thinking shape…

  37. The Three Building Blocks of Trust Most Leaders Miss - E47

    · 23 min · S1 E47

    Dusty goes solo to reframe one of leadership’s most misunderstood concepts—trust—arguing that leaders get stuck because they treat trust as something to earn or demand rather than something to build deliberately.…

  38. The Lie Ambitious Leaders Believe About Identity & Success | Maricella Herrera - E46

    · 1 h 04 min · S1 E46

    She built her dream career, but then walked away. Dusty Holcomb sits down with Maricella Herrera—former COO and CEO of Elevate Network and host of the podcast Oh Shit, I Just Quit My Job—for an honest, deeply human…

  39. Why Willpower Fails—Create Sustainable Success With the ACT Framework | Lani Jones - E45

    · 39 min · S1 E45

    Dusty sits down once again with Dr. Lani Jones—clinical psychologist and executive coach—for a practical, no-nonsense conversation about turning good intentions into systems that actually produce lasting change.…

  40. Most Goals Fail—But Not With This One Shift in Planning | Lani Jones - E44

    · 36 min · S1 E44

    Dusty welcomes back Dr. Lani Jones—clinical psychologist, executive coach, and expert in behavior change—for a timely and deeply reflective conversation on how leaders can intentionally design success rather than…

  41. Stop Accepting Pain as the Price of Success as a Leader | Scott Hogan - E43

    · 1 h 03 min · S1 E43

    Dusty sits down with Scott Hogan—former collegiate baseball player, injury-prone athlete turned founder, author, and recovery-focused entrepreneur—for a conversation that reframes leadership through the lens of…

  42. Being Nice Is Killing Your Team—Here’s What to Do Instead - E42

    · 29 min · S1 E42

    Dusty goes solo to challenge one of leadership’s most damaging habits—the belief that being “nice” is the same as being effective—and makes the case that niceness is quietly starving teams of the truth they need to…

  43. The Leadership Skill Horses Have Mastered That Most Humans Ignore | Amanda Dunklin - E41

    · 1 h 06 min · S1 E41

    Dusty sits down with Amanda Dunklin—equestrian coach, entrepreneur, and operational strategist—for a conversation that redefines what it means to lead with clarity, empathy, and resilience. After decades spent training…

  44. Why More Success Won’t Fix the Emptiness High Performing Leaders Don’t Talk About | Sean Keller - E40

    · 1 h 01 min · S1 E40

    Dusty sits down with Sean Keller—a filmmaker-turned-leadership coach who helps high-capacity entrepreneurs realize that their real wilderness isn’t around them, it’s within them. Sean shares his unlikely journey from…

  45. This Is How Top-Performing CEOs Manage Their Time & Calendar - E39

    · 27 min · S1 E39

    Dusty goes solo to dismantle one of leadership’s most pervasive myths—the idea that an overloaded, reactive calendar is simply the price of effectiveness. Drawing on personal lessons, client stories, and striking CEO…

  46. How Great Leaders Reimagine Pressure to Excel in High-Stakes Environments | Dr. Brian Hite - E38

    · 1 h 17 min · S1 E38

    Dusty is joined by Dr. Brian Hite—stunt performer, performance psychologist, and creator of the FACT Framework—for a conversation that reframes what it really means to thrive under pressure. With three decades spent…

  47. What Most Leaders Get Wrong About Scaling Their Business | Dustin Riechmann - E37

    · 52 min · S1 E37

    Dusty Holcomb sits down with entrepreneur and former engineer Dustin Riechmann, whose story is a masterclass in courage, clarity, and reinvention. From watching his business collapse in 2020 to building a seven-figure…

  48. Why Doesn’t Your Team Just Do Their Damn Job? - E36

    · 24 min · S1 E36

    Dusty goes solo to expose one of the most misunderstood frustrations in leadership—the belief that execution problems stem from lazy teams, when in reality they almost always originate upstream with the leader. Drawing…

  49. The Rule of 3 And 10 That Breaks Every Growing Business and Leader | Nolan Bradbury - E35

    · 57 min · S1 E35

    Dusty sits down with Nolan Bradbury, a former CPA turned financial strategist who helps leaders realize that their biggest challenge isn’t money, it’s clarity. Nolan opens up about his journey from Big Four accounting…

  50. Build A Brand That Multiplies Your Vision Even When You’re Not In The Room | Alan McLaren - E34

    · 1 h 00 min · S1 E34

    Dusty Holcomb sits down with Alan McLaren, CEO, entrepreneur, marketer, and self-proclaimed “Chief Squirrel Tamer.” Alan shares his 35-year leadership journey, from selling photocopiers door-to-door to leading global…

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