the Learn-It-All™ podcast

Are you getting on planes you don't actually need to be on? It is easy to confuse your corporate role with your personal identity, especially when you are a high performer consistently hitting the president's club. But what is the hidden cost of chasing that next title, bigger team, or salary increase?

In this episode of The Learn-It-All™ Podcast, Damon sits down with Strategic Advisor, Author, and Top-Ranked Podcast Host Billy Keels to discuss what happens when your identity gets completely wrapped up in your corporate lifestyle. Billy shares his personal wake-up call from October 2012, when he fo...

Are you ready to transform your failures into your greatest competitive advantage?

In the high-stakes world of Major League Baseball, even the best players fail seven out of ten times. In this episode, Damon sits down with 30-year veteran sports journalist Ken Davidoff to discuss how the resilience learned on the diamond can be the ultimate blueprint for success in the boardroom and at home. Drawing from his book, 101 Lessons from the Dugout, Ken shares powerful stories of Hall of Famers and everyday leaders who mastered the art of "tagging up", pausing to control reactions before they...

What if the secret to elite leadership isn't a natural-born talent, but a learned skill forged through vulnerability and connection? Many emerging leaders struggle with imposter syndrome, questioning if they are "good enough" to lead more experienced peers or step into high-pressure roles.

In this episode of The Learn-It-All™ Podcast, Damon sits down with Kieran Read, former captain of the legendary New Zealand All Blacks, to discuss the transition from high-performing individual contributor to world-class leader. Kieran reveals why the most impactful leaders lead through authentic action rather than "big speeches," how to build trust by initiating ca...

Are you settling for stagnant performance because you're wrestling with a deep-seated lack of confidence or the "imposter syndrome" mask?

In this episode of The Learn-It-All™ Podcast, Damon sits down with executive coach and author Quinn Harwood to dismantle the barriers that keep high-performing emerging leaders from reaching their next level. Quinn shares his journey from professional basketball with the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers, where a teenage Kobe Bryant showed him the true meaning of "next level" confidence, to coaching thousands on how to bridge the gap between performance and results. They dive into th...

Are you launching great ideas only to watch them fall apart at the finish line?

Many organizations struggle with execution because they start with a creative idea rather than a foundational strategy. In this episode of The Learn-It-All™ Podcast, Damon sits down with Jamie Shaver, a strategic marketing leader who specializes in helping companies "get amped" and win. Jamie reveals why a "confused mind says no", whether it's a prospect on your website or an employee tasked with a new initiative. They discuss the critical internal-external alignment needed for success, why 95% of AI projects fail to get pa...

What happens to a person, and to a company, when people stop believing their dreams can actually come true?

In this episode of The Learn-It-All™ Podcast, Damon sits down with Kate Volman, author, podcast host, and CEO of Floyd Consulting, for a powerful conversation about people-first leadership, employee development, dream management, workplace culture, coaching, creativity, and why helping your people become better versions of themselves may be one of the smartest business strategies a leader can build.

Kate explains why an organization can only become the best version of itself when its people are growing, to...

What if the thing driving your success is also the thing quietly keeping you stuck?

In this episode of The Learn-It-All™ Podcast, Damon sits down with former professional BMX athlete, X Games competitor, brain tumor survivor, and high-performance coach Josh Perry for a raw conversation about fear-based leadership, imposter syndrome, survival mode, and the invisible costs that often come with high achievement.

Josh breaks down how many leaders, entrepreneurs, athletes, and executives operate through three hidden stress lenses: inadequacy, insecurity, and scarcity. He explains how force can create results, but it can also lead to re...

What does it actually take to build a championship culture when nobody believes you belong in the room?

For the 300th episode of The Learn-It-All™ Podcast, Damon sits down with a very special guest: legendary college baseball coach Andy Lopez. This episode is deeply personal because Andy was not only Damon’s coach at Pepperdine but also a major influence on his life, leadership style, and career. From telling Damon the hard truth as a young athlete to modeling what it means to lead with standards, discipline, faith, and care, Andy helped shape the way Damon thinks abou...

What if the biggest startup opportunities aren’t in the hottest markets, but in the “old, clunky” industries everyone else ignores?

In this episode of The Learn-It-All™ Podcast, Damon sits down with Garrett Larsson, founder and CEO of Rhombus, to unpack how founders can build massive B2B companies by looking where the hype isn’t. Garrett shares why industries that don’t attract the most venture capital or media attention can still produce category-defining businesses, especially when there is a major shift in technology, go-to-market strategy, or customer behavior.

Garrett also breaks down the lessons he l...

Most leaders are moving too slowly for the world they’re trying to win in.

In this episode of the Learn-It-All™ podcast, Damon sits down with Keynote speaker and former Tesla executive Jay Abbasi to unpack why speed in business, leadership adaptability, and decisive action are becoming non-negotiable advantages in today’s AI-driven workplace. Jay shares how his time at Tesla taught him that in an environment full of change, chaos, and uncertainty, waiting on the sidelines means falling behind. The better move? Fail forward, take calculated risks, and trust that the first decision does not have to be...

What if your AI strategy is making your team faster, but not actually smarter?

In this episode of The Learn-It-All™ Podcast, Damon sits down with Christa Hill, Co-Founder of Tacit Edge and Learnit’s very own Chief AI Learning Officer, to unpack why so many leaders, teams, and organizations are still using artificial intelligence at what Christa calls “brochure-level.” Playing around with ChatGPT, Copilot, Claude, or Gemini might feel like progress, but Christa says real AI literacy starts when you stop treating AI like a shortcut and start using it to rethink strategy, decision-making, team workflows, and business...

What happens when people stop feeling seen at work, right as AI makes it easier than ever to avoid real human connection?

In this episode of The Learn-It-All™ Podcast, Damon sits down with Colleen Stanley, President of SalesLeadership, author, and one of Salesforce’s Top 7 Sales Influencers of the 21st Century, to talk about the workforce crisis hiding in plain sight: leaders know mentorship matters, but the pace of change, remote work, social media, AI, and the “tyranny of the urgent” keep pushing it to the bottom of the list. Colleen explains why mentorship may not show up as a...

AI is not just changing the future of work. It is exposing which parts of your job were never the real work to begin with.

In this episode of The Learn-It-All™ Podcast, Damon sits down with Andrea Iorio, keynote speaker and best-selling author of Between You and AI, to break down how leaders can use artificial intelligence without losing the human skills that make them irreplaceable. Andrea reframes the fear around AI replacing jobs by showing how AI is really coming for repetitive tasks, data analysis, reports, meeting recaps, emails, and the “work about work” that keeps people...

What if your team isn’t underperforming because of talent, strategy, or effort, but because they’re mentally falling apart under pressure?

In this episode of The Learn-It-All™ Podcast, Damon sits down with clinical psychologist and Oklahoma City Thunder’s team psychologist Wayne Chappelle to break down the emotional, social, and behavioral habits that separate good teams from elite teams. Drawing from his work with special operations, professional athletes, executives, and high-performance organizations, Wayne explains why talent and physical stamina matter, but are never enough on their own.

Wayne shares the 4 warning signs that leaders and team...

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Every top performer has one leadership skill that rarely shows up in job descriptions, training programs, or performance reviews: self-awareness.

Most leaders don’t need another framework.

They need the truth about what’s actually driving how they lead.

In this solo episode of The Learn-It-All™ Podcast, Damon Lembi breaks down why self-awareness is the foundation behind every great leader, top performer, and high-functioning team.

Through powerful personal stories, from getting called out by legendary Arizona State baseball coach Jim Brock, to lessons from h...

What if the strongest leaders aren’t the ones who fight alone, but the ones who know how to serve, protect, and build a tribe around them?

In this episode of The Learn-It-All™ Podcast, Damon sits down with internationally acclaimed speaker and bestselling author, DJ Vanas, to unpack an ancient leadership principle that still separates top leaders from average managers: real warriors are contributors, protectors, and servants who develop themselves so they can serve others at a higher level.

DJ reframes the warrior through a Native American tribal lens, far away from the Hollywood version of t...

What if the leadership trait you’re most proud of is the exact thing quietly breaking trust with your team?

In this episode of the Learn-It-All™ podcast, Damon Lembi sits down with leadership coach and author of the book The Things We Hide, Tyler Dickerhoof, to unpack the one rule that separates great leaders from average managers: stop making leadership about proving yourself, and start making it about bringing out the best in other people. Tyler explains why first-time leaders need belief poured into them, why vulnerability builds credibility instead of weakening it, and why trying to be t...

AI is not waiting for your team to catch up. If leaders keep treating artificial intelligence like a side experiment instead of a business shift, they are going to fall behind.

In this episode of the Learn-It-All™ podcast, Damon Lembi sits down with Danielle Clark, VP of Global Talent at eBay, to unpack what AI leadership actually looks like inside a global company, and why the real challenge is not that the tech is not ready. It is that most humans are still learning how to work with it.

Danielle breaks down how leaders can gu...

Why do so many high achievers still feel empty after getting everything they thought they wanted?

In this episode of The Learn-It-All Podcast, Damon Lembi sits down with Jim Murphy, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Inner Excellence, to unpack why success without meaning still leaves people anxious, restless, and unfulfilled. Jim explains why chasing what he calls the “PALMS”: possessions, achievements, looks, money, and status, can never satisfy the deeper human need for love, acceptance, peace, and purpose.

Drawing from his own journey from failed baseball dreams to coaching elite athletes, CEOs, and world-class perf...

What happens when you’re good enough to get in the room — and then don’t like what you see?

CJ Davidson spent years grinding his way up in traditional financial services. Cold-calling attorneys from a $5 street tie. Earning trust one client at a time. Building something real.

And then, when he finally got a seat in the leadership meetings, he realized the client wasn’t even in the conversation.

That moment didn’t break him. It built Proxy Financial.

In this episode of The Learn-It-All Podcast, Damon sits down with CJ — Found...

What if the promotion you want is the very thing that could derail your career?

In this episode of The Learn-It-All™ Podcast, Damon Lembi sits down with Vincent Wanga, award-winning creative executive and author of The Art of Direction, to unpack the first question every high performer should ask before becoming a leader: why? Vincent explains why leadership is not just the next step for top individual contributors, why chasing money, power, and glory is a dangerous reason to say yes, and why leading people is ultimately an empathetic and selfless pursuit. He also breaks down the di...

What does it really take to walk into a company everyone says is finished and turn it into a comeback story?

In this episode of The Learn-It-All™ Podcast, Damon Lembi sits down with legendary operator and investor Ray Lane for a masterclass on leadership, company turnarounds, founder potential, and scaling a business without losing the plot. Ray shares the hard-earned lessons that took him from an unexpected first leadership role in college to IBM, EDS under Ross Perot, the high-stakes turnaround of Oracle, Kleiner Perkins, and now GreatPoint Ventures.

This conversation goes deep into how to...

What if the very thing parents try hardest to protect their kids from is exactly what helps them grow?

In this solo episode of The Learn-It-All™ Podcast, Damon Lembi shares why Little League baseball teaches kids to fail, and why that’s one of the greatest gifts youth sports can offer. From the excitement of opening day and breaking in a new glove with his dad, to striking out four times in one game at Arizona State, Damon reflects on the life and leadership lessons that started on the baseball field.

This episode is a powe...

What if the biggest thing holding leaders back is not failure, disruption, or AI, but fear?

In this episode of The Learn-It-All Podcast, Damon Lembi sits down with Jim Keyes, former CEO of 7-Eleven and Blockbuster, for a conversation on confidence, reinvention, lifelong learning, and the mindset it takes to lead when the stakes are high. Jim reflects on helping lead a major turnaround at 7-Eleven, stepping into Blockbuster during one of its most turbulent chapters, and the hard-won lessons that came from navigating crisis instead of running from it.

Jim also shares his story...

Why do 89% of leaders freeze under pressure while a small few get clearer, calmer, and more decisive?

In this episode of The Learn-It-All Podcast, Damon Lembi sits down with executive coach, keynote speaker, and Capitalizing on Chaos author Rob Kalwarowsky to unpack what really happens to leaders during uncertainty, stress, burnout, and high-stakes decision-making.

They dig into what Rob calls inner chaos, that feeling of being at war inside your own head, and why the best leaders are not the ones who pretend to be fearless, but the ones who know how to steady themselves...

What actually separates the great from the greatest, and why do so many successful leaders still battle self-doubt?

In this episode of The Learn-It-All Podcast, Damon Lembi sits down with high-performance coach and former 7-time world champion drummer James Laughlin to break down what truly drives elite leadership performance.

James shares the principles behind his book Habits of High Performers, revealing how leaders can consistently exceed norms while maintaining healthy relationships and well-being. From rewiring belief systems and battling imposter syndrome to using visualization to rehearse success under pressure, this conversation goes deep into the...

What does the future of work look like when AI becomes not just a tool, but a teammate?

In this episode of The Learn-It-All Podcast, Damon Lembi is joined by Mickey Fitch-Collins, host of the Learnit Lounge Podcast, to explore bold AI predictions for the workforce by 2027. From reshaping leadership to redefining human roles, the shift is already underway. Organizations are grappling with how to integrate AI effectively and how to redesign workflows to incorporate this powerful new teammate.

Are your skills future-proof? Tune in to uncover what leaders and employees need to thrive in...

Do you feel trapped in the endless cycle of perfectionism, constantly striving for flawlessness only to burn out? It might feel like the more you achieve, the less fulfilled you become.

In this episode, Damon is joined by Todd Patkin, a former business leader turned happiness expert, to unpack how perfectionism can secretly be sabotaging your life and career. Todd shares his personal journey of overcoming anxiety and depression, breaking free from perfectionism, and finding true happiness through simple but powerful habits.

You’ll learn how perfectionism isn’t a badge of honor, but a hidd...

Ever been ghosted after a first sales meeting you thought went well? It’s frustrating when momentum dies before you ever get a second conversation. Lee Salz says it often happens for one simple reason: most sales teams don’t have a prescribed way to run the first meeting, so they default to “discovery.” And discovery, in his words, is an egocentric sales step. Meanwhile, the buyer is thinking, “I have 400 things to do… what do I get out of meeting with you?”

In this episode, Damon sits down with bestselling author Lee Salz to break down how to stop ge...

In this episode of The Learn-It-All™ Podcast, host Damon Lembi welcomes Pearce Cucchissi, a former Army Ranger and elite performance coach who specializes in human optimization for both world-class athletes and top executives. Pearce shares groundbreaking insights into why CEOs must train like athletes to sustain their peak performance and avoid burnout. He discusses the essential human operating system that underpins both elite athletes and executives, highlighting the importance of mental resilience, physical optimization, and strategic habits. Tune in to learn how executives can implement simple yet powerful changes in their routines to extend their careers, improve their health, an...

Every leader knows what an iPhone is—but have you ever thought about your own “human operating system”?

In this eye-opening episode, Damon welcomes trusted advisor Townsend Wardlaw to the Learn-It-All™ podcast for a deeply practical—and often surprising—conversation about mindset, leadership, and personal transformation. Using vivid analogies and candid stories, Townsend Wardlaw challenges leaders to rethink the “code” they’re running: are you operating on beliefs that hold you back, or fuel your growth? From updating your personal OS to escaping the trap of “trying harder,” this episode delivers powerful frameworks and real-life examples for anyone ready to break...

Even high-performing teams can be unhappy—and leaders who want to create workplaces where people thrive need a new playbook.

In this energizing episode of the Learn-It-All™ podcast, Damon sits down with Aoife O'Brien, award-winning podcast host and author of Thriving Talent, to unpack the essential ingredients for happy, high-performing workplaces. Drawing from her own journey and deep organizational research, Aoife lays out her “house” framework for thriving teams. Discover the building blocks of psychological safety, culture, drivers, and capabilities—plus practical ways leaders at any level can activate them. From feedback to autonomy to tackling imposter syndrome...

Leaders aren’t just born—they’re built, and sometimes it takes stepping into the unknown to truly make a lasting impact.

In this heartening episode of the Learn-It-All™ podcast, Damon Lembi sits down with David Brint, innovative real estate entrepreneur and transformative former chairman of the Foundation Fighting Blindness. David shares the inspiring story behind his decades-long mission to cure blinding diseases—a journey that began with his own son’s diagnosis. Together, they dig into everything from scaling one of America’s top affordable housing companies to overhauling a nonprofit for long-term success—plus, the hard (and human...

Chaos isn't just survival—it's an opportunity.

In this electrifying episode of the Learn-It-All™ podcast, host Damon Lembi welcomes strategic advisor, U.S. Army veteran, and author Kevin Black for a game-changing deep dive on team chaos. Drawing from military history, behavioral science, and his groundbreaking book Strength and Chaos, Kevin reveals why chaos is misunderstood as merely negative—and how leaders can harness it for team growth. The duo unpacks the difference between destructive and constructive chaos, behavioral adaptability, and the “PAR” dynamic that determines whether your team thrives or crumbles under stress. Whether you run a startup...

There’s always a way—and Ursula Mentjes can show you how.

On this episode of the Learn-It-All™ podcast, Damon welcomes Ursula Mentjes: five-time bestselling author, award-winning entrepreneur, and business growth expert. Together, they explore why “accidental salespeople” often outperform the pros, what really drives outsize business growth, and how to dismantle limiting beliefs that hold leaders back. Ursula opens up about her early days in sales, her leap from the corporate world to entrepreneurship, and the mindsets that helped her—and her clients—break through seven-figure ceilings. Plus, she shares actionable tips on hiring, delegation, and leveraging AI...

Learn as if you’ll live forever. Lead as if you’re always becoming.

In this energizing solo episode of the Learn-It-All™ podcast, host Damon Lembi takes us on a deep dive into his signature “Five C’s” framework—a roadmap for leaders who want to double down on their human advantage in an AI-driven world. Drawing on his own journey and packed with relatable stories, Damon reveals why humility opens the door to greatness and how Character, Curiosity, Courage, Confidence, and Community will set you apart as a truly “Learn-It-All” leader. From practical leadership tips to actionable exercis...

From Solopreneur to $10 Billion: Mark Gleiberman on Focus, Family, & Resilient Growth

What does it take to scale a business from a single 38-unit apartment acquisition to a 33,000-unit, $10B empire? In this eye-opening episode of the Learn-It-All™ podcast, Damon sits down with Mark Gleiberman, Founder & CEO of MG Properties, who walks us through three decades of disciplined growth. Together, they break down the power of saying "no" to distractions, weathering economic storms, and building a culture where people thrive for decades.

Mark Gleiberman explains why MG Properties has stuck with one niche—existing multifamily apartments—and ho...

Failure isn’t the opposite of success—it’s the catalyst that propels you forward. In this high-impact episode of the Learn-It-All™ podcast, host Damon welcomes Jim Harshaw Jr., executive performance coach, TEDx speaker, and former Division I All-American wrestler, for a raw conversation about the real anatomy of achievement. Jim opens up abouthis own journey through sports, business setbacks, and imposter syndrome, revealing the powerful mindset shifts and practical frameworks behind lasting growth. From the wrestling mat to the boardroom, Jim shares how leaning into failure, aligning your life with your true vision, and building an “environment of excellence...

Some motivations are built-in. Others, you have to spark. In this mind-opening episode of the Learn-It-All™ podcast, Damon welcomes behavioral economist and bestselling author Dan Ariely to decode the real drivers of high-performing teams and modern organizations. Together, they explore the hidden costs of remote work, why extrinsic motivators like pay fall short, and how leaders can reignite connection, resilience, and risk-taking in a post-pandemic world. Packed with stories and science, Dan shares actionable ways to make invisible effort matter, untangle workplace polarization, and transform "paycheck players" into passionate contributors.

Whether you lead a team, want to re...

What does it take to become a four-time Olympian—when you don’t even pick your sport until age 21? On this electrifying episode of the Learn-It-All™ podcast, Damon welcomes the unstoppable Ruben Gonzalez: luge athlete, keynote speaker, TEDx phenomenon, and master storyteller. From overcoming repeated failure to redefining visualization as “feelerization,” Ruben Gonzalez shares captivating tales and actionable tools for crushing doubt and charging after big dreams, no matter when—or where—you start.

You’ll get an inside look at what fuels resilience in the world’s most competitive arenas, how to become coachable (even when you’re stubborn...