The QBQ! Podcast
What changes when we stop blaming, complaining, and waiting—and start asking better questions?Hosted by Kristin Lindeen, The QBQ! Podcast brings the principles of the bestselling book QBQ! The Question Behind the Question into everyday life. Through honest conversations, practical insights, and real-life stories, Kristin explores how personal accountability can strengthen our leadership, relationships, families, workplaces, and choices.Because lasting change doesn’t begin with someone else. It begins with the questions we ask ourselves.Personal accountability—it’s really that simple.
The Guy Who Reads QBQ! Every New Year's Eve (with Sean Carpenter)
What kind of book is worth reading every single year for nearly 20 years?
For my guest Sean Carpenter, it's QBQ! The Question Behind the Question by my dad, John G. Miller!
Sean is a Realtor, speaker, coach, and longtime QBQ! fan who has made it a New Year's Eve tradition to reread the book from cover to cover. I had to find out why! And as it turns out, even after two decades, Sean still appreciates the reminder to stop blaming, complaining, and procrastinating—and start asking better questions.
In this episode, Sean an...
Since When Does Disagreeing Make You a Bad Person?
I've been thinking lately about how we treat people who see the world differently than we do. And I'll admit, sometimes I'm just baffled by the things people are willing to say about each other, especially online!
When did disagreeing with someone become a reason to dislike them—or worse, decide they're a bad person?
From politics and parenting to faith and education, we all have strong opinions. But somewhere along the way, it seems we've forgotten how to disagree without disrespecting one another.
In this solo episode of The QBQ! Podcast, I sh...
Family Estrangement: Is Personal Accountability the Missing Piece?
Tania Khazaal understands family estrangement from the inside out. She was once the estranged adult child in her own family, later reconciled with her mother, and now helps parents navigate the heartbreak and uncertainty of estrangement with greater understanding, compassion, and personal accountability.
What I appreciated most about Tania was her ability to hold two truths at once: Parents can take an honest look at themselves without accepting all the blame, and they can work toward healing without trying to control another person’s choices.
Tania offers practical insight into why adult children may pull aw...
Accountability Doesn't Mean Control
Episode 36: Accountability Doesn't Mean Control
What happens when you've done your part—and the other person still doesn't do theirs?
Whether it's an unanswered sales inquiry, a frustrating relationship, or a decision someone else needs to make, it's easy to confuse personal accountability with responsibility for the outcome.
In this solo episode, I share a few real-life examples of that tension and explore an important distinction: Taking ownership doesn't mean we can (or should even try to) control everything around us.
Sometimes accountability means taking action. Other times, it me...
What Does THAT Have to Do with QBQ?
What happens when you sit down with John G. Miller and ask him a bunch of random questions?
Apparently, you still end up talking about personal accountability.
In this episode, Dad and I go a little off-script with a mix of fun, unexpected, and thought-provoking questions—and somehow keep finding our way back to the ideas behind QBQ!.
It’s a relaxed conversation about life, choices, perspective, and the way personal accountability shows up in places you might not expect.
Random topics. Real accountability.
If your team or o...
“I Love You Just as You Are”: Helping Our Kids Grow Without Changing Who They Are
Resources:
https://qbq.com/relationships-7-perfect-words/
https://qbq.com/books/raising-accountable-kids/
How do I help my children stretch and grow without making them feel as though who they are isn’t enough?
Inspired by my dad John G. Miller’s blog about the “7 Perfect Words,” I share a moment when the QBQ! guideline “Every QBQ! contains an I” challenged my own parenting. It’s an honest reflection on expectations, raising pastor’s kids, personality differences, and the fine line between coaching someone I love and trying to change them.
Who in your life...
What can I do to make you feel AWESOME?
I talk a lot about asking better questions—but I loved the way my guest John Kirkman applies that idea: What can I do to help this person feel awesome?
(check out https://awz.me/ for a creative way to encourage others!)
John has made encouragement an intentional practice in his classroom, his family, and his community. And as we talked, I was struck by how naturally that connects to Personal Accountability. Instead of wondering what someone thinks of me, criticizing what they’re doing wrong, or waiting for someone else to change the...
How Great Leaders Let Go
Two weeks ago, I talked about using QBQ! to find calm in the middle of change. This week, Cindy Moen joins me to continue that conversation.
Cindy recently retired from her role as Chief People Officer and shares how she used QBQ! to process the unexpected emotions that came with even a carefully planned change. We talk about letting go, feeling needed, supporting others through transition, and moving forward into a new season.
Change can quickly pull us into questions about what other people are doing—or why things aren’t happening the way we expe...
Finding Calm in the Middle of Change
Change is inevitable, but chaos doesn't have to be. In this episode, Kristin shares why change naturally leads us to ask lousy questions, and how asking better ones can help us respond with calm instead of frustration. Through stories from recent client conversations and a very personal parenting moment, you'll discover what QBQ looks like in the middle of real life.
Thanks for joining us today!
Find out more about QBQ! training opportunities at www.QBQ.com.
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Accountability in the age of AI: Don't Outsource Your Thinking
AI is changing the way we work, learn, and do business—but what does that mean for personal accountability?
In this episode, I sit down with entrepreneur, business coach, and my sister-in-law, Jen Hickle, to talk about navigating change in the age of AI. Jen works at the intersection of technology and people, helping business owners adapt, grow, and solve problems, so I knew she'd have valuable insights to share.
Together, we explore how to embrace AI as a tool without outsourcing our thinking, our creativity, or our humanity. We talk about the realities of en...
When Caring Too Much Becomes a Problem
One of the biggest misconceptions I encounter about personal accountability is the belief that it means doing more, working harder, and saying yes to everything.
In this solo episode, I share a conversation I recently had with a client leadership team that sparked an important discussion about accountability and boundaries. Someone on the call made an observation that really stuck with me: the people who care the most are often the ones carrying the most.
We admire people who serve others, put others first, and go the extra mile. But what happens when those strengths...
From “Why Me?” to “What Can I Do?” | Real-Life QBQ! Application
When life feels unfair, where does your thinking go first?
In this episode of The QBQ! Podcast, I sat down with Brad Detchevery, a longtime QBQ! reader and listener who shared how personal accountability transformed the way he handled one of the most frustrating seasons of his life.
After a car accident during a food delivery shift led to a two-year insurance battle, Brad found himself trapped in obsessive thinking, victim mentality, and constant frustration. But through QBQ, he slowly learned to shift from asking:
“Why is this happening to me?”
to:<...
From Trade Show Tent to Industry Leader: The Power of Personal Accountability
I’m re-sharing one of my favorite QBQ! Podcast conversations today with Joe Hamilton, CEO and President of Vortex Optics. Plus a little surprise!
Joe shares the incredible story of building Vortex from a small trade show tent into the largest sport optics company in the world—and how personal accountability, consistency, and service shaped that journey along the way.
What I love about this conversation is how practical it is. We talk about leadership, culture, customer experience, family life, and the simple QBQ question:
“What can I do to make this better?”
Joe al...
What Our New Puppy Is Teaching Me About Personal Accountability
We just brought home a new puppy, and within hours, I caught myself asking all the wrong questions.
“Why is she doing this?” “When is she going to learn?” “Who's going to handle this mess??”
Sound familiar?
In this episode, I’m sharing what puppy training is teaching me about personal accountability and how quickly we can fall into blame, frustration, and waiting… instead of ownership.
Because whether it’s a puppy, a person, or a problem, the principle is the same:
I can’t change them.
But I can change me.
From Finger Pointing to Double Digit Growth
What does it take to move a team from finger-pointing to real results?
In this episode, I talk with Debbie Slocum, a longtime QBQ user and former HR leader at Husqvarna. She shares what it was like to be the “lone wolf” introducing QBQ to her team, and how things finally started to shift when the first follower stepped in.
That’s when it stopped being just one person pushing and started becoming a movement.
We talk about what actually makes accountability stick:
why it takes more than a one-time training how repetitio...Stop Speaking in Code: What Outstanding! Organizations Do Differently
What do outstanding organizations actually do differently?
In this episode of The QBQ! Podcast, I’m joined by my dad, John, as we talk about the books beyond QBQ!—including Flipping the Switch, I Own It!, Raising Accountable Kids, and Outstanding! Each one builds on the same core idea: personal accountability is the foundation for better results—at work, at home, and in leadership.
In our conversation, we share:
Why great organizations don’t “speak in code” How simple habits like humility, clarity, and ownership shape culture A powerful story of a pilot who went the extra mi...From Micromanaging to Leading: The Power of Better Questions
In this episode of the QBQ! Podcast, I’m joined by Laura Train, founder of Integrity Training Solutions and a longtime QBQ practitioner and distributor. Laura first encountered QBQ! while working at the Social Security Administration, and she shares how those simple principles transformed the way she leads, teaches, and responds under pressure. From leadership lessons in government service to a season caring for her mom, Laura talks about how learning to pause and ask better questions helped her move from reacting to responding. If you’ve ever struggled with stress, control, procrastination, or blame, this conversation is a remi...
Raising an Accountable Generation: What It Takes to Raise Ownership at Every Age
Part 2 of a conversation with the Coast to Coast Camps leadership team, this episode turns the focus to parenting, modeling, and what it really takes to raise an accountable generation.
From foster care to grandparenting, from toddlers to adult children, this conversation spans every stage of parenting—and one shared conviction: accountability isn’t taught through lectures, it’s learned by watching the adults go first.
You’ll hear real stories about cleaning up your own mess, choosing ownership over excuses, and why “do as I do” carries far more weight than “do as I say.” The...
When Every Problem Points to You: From Bottleneck to Breakthrough
When Every Problem Points to You
From Bottleneck to Breakthrough
What do you do when every problem seems to land on you?
In this episode of the QBQ! Podcast, I’m joined by the leadership team from Coast to Coast Camps for a conversation about leadership, culture, and personal accountability. Bud Harley shares how discovering QBQ! helped shift responsibility from bottlenecking at the top to becoming a shared language across the team.
We talk about what it looks like to eliminate blame and waiting, wh...
You Can’t Hold People Accountable (And Why That’s Good News for Leaders)
“I still have to hold my people accountable.”
Managers say this all the time—and it’s a fair question.
In this short, one-off episode of the QBQ! Podcast, Kristin Lindeen clarifies the difference between personal accountability and holding others accountable—and why that distinction matters for leaders.
Drawing from a recent leadership workshop and a powerful insight shared by a frontline manager, Kristin explores two common myths of accountability and explains why no leader can make someone rise to the standard.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
Why ac...Great Hospitality Starts with Better Questions: The QBQ Approach to Restaurant Leadership and Accountability
Why Great Hospitality Starts with Better Questions
The QBQ Approach to Restaurant Leadership and Accountability
In the restaurant world, it’s easy to spend your days reacting—putting out fires, fixing mistakes, and wondering why people “just don’t get it.” Over time, that way of leading wears people down.
In this episode of the QBQ! Podcast, I talk with restaurant consultant and operator Vince Lanni about how asking better questions can change what’s happening on the restaurant floor. We discuss why blaming people doesn’t improve performance, how leaders can sh...
Why the Questions We Ask Matter (with Charles Alexander): A featured conversation from the Do More By Doing Less podcast
This week, we’re sharing a conversation from the Do More By Doing Less podcast, hosted by Charles Alexander.
Charles recently sat down with my dad, John G. Miller, author of QBQ! The Question Behind the Question, for a thoughtful conversation about why the questions we ask matter more than we realize. John talks about how QBQ grew out of years of listening to leaders ask the wrong questions — and how a simple shift from “Why don’t they…?” to “What can I do?” can change the way we show up at work and at home.
They cover the...
Careers Aren't Straight Lines: Taking Ownership from Customer Service to Operational Excellence
In this episode, Kristin talks with Cindy Darnell of Element about how personal accountability shapes everything from team dynamics and customer service to parenting and career growth. Cindy shares how QBQ helped her move from blame to ownership, influenced her leadership journey, and continues to guide her mindset at work and at home. A powerful reminder that no matter the role, the path forward always starts with what we choose to do.
Thanks for joining us today!
Find out more about QBQ! training opportunities at www.QBQ.com.
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Letting Go and Letting Be: A Peaceful Holiday Season
Kristin shares seven simple “let” ideas—let go, let loose, let others, let up, let in, let be, and let me—to help create a calmer, more joyful holiday season. A quick QBQ reminder to pause and ask: What can I do to bring more joy to the people around me?
Thanks for joining us today!
Find out more about QBQ! training opportunities at www.QBQ.com.
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The Story of QBQ! – Part 5: The Shaping of the QBQ! book with David Levin
In Part 5 of The Story of QBQ! series, Kristin talks with David Levin — the creative partner who helped shape the QBQ! book we all know today. Together they revisit how it all came together, from cassette tapes to a timeless message of Personal Accountability.
We’re back with Part 5 of The Story of QBQ! series — and this one’s a fun behind-the-scenes conversation you won’t want to miss.
My guest is David Levin, the creative partner who helped my dad, John G. Miller...
Accountability in Sales: Kristin Lindeen on the Awesome Impact Podcast
QBQ! goes B2B! Kristin joins John DiMare on The Awesome Impact B2B Sales Podcast to unpack how The Question Behind the Question® empowers sales leaders to stop blaming, start owning, and lead with action. Hear how accountability transforms teams, reduces excuses, and changes results — from the sales floor to the family room.
👉 Listen as Kristin and John connect the dots between personal accountability and professional performance — and why every sales pro needs a little QBQ! in their toolkit.
In this episode of the Awesome...
Accountability Isn’t a Policy—It’s Personal.
When HR leads with accountability, everyone wins.
How Liberty Hospital’s HR leader turned one simple book into a movement of personal accountability.
Liberty Hospital’s VP of HR, Thomas Murphy, joins Kristin Lindeen to share how QBQ! transformed leadership and culture from the inside out. Discover how personal accountability—not policy—creates stronger teams, better communication, and lasting organizational change.
From shifting mindsets to building consistency across every level of leadership, this conversation shows what happens when people stop asking “Who’s to blame?” and start asking “What can I do?”
Tha...
We Don't Leave Companies, We Leave Managers: Becoming an Outstanding Manager with QBQ!
Managers shape culture more than any perk or policy. In this episode, John G. Miller and Kristin Lindeen explore why people often leave managers—not companies—and how personal accountability, humility, and the lessons from Outstanding! can help leaders become truly effective.
Resources:
13 Fatal Errors Managers Make and How to Avoid Them by W. Steven Brown
Outstanding! 47 Ways to Make Your Organization Exceptional by John G. Miller
Manager Training using the Outstanding! material, with Kristin Lindeen
Thanks for joining us today!
Find out more about...
Believe or Leave: Building a Performance Culture with CRO Steve Chamberlin
What happens when entitlement and blame meet a culture of accountability? In this episode of the QBQ! Podcast, Kristin Lindeen sits down with Steve Chamberlin, Chief Revenue Officer of Momentum Textiles and Wallcovering, to explore how QBQ has shaped his leadership across multiple organizations since 2007.
From transforming Husqvarna’s culture with “Believe or Leave,” to modeling accountability in new roles, to handing out QBQ books to anyone who needs the message—Steve shares stories of how personal accountability isn’t just a corporate tool, it’s a life principle.
You’ll hear:
Why negative thinking sprea...Walking Our Talk: Marriage, Parenting, and QBQ in Real Life
It’s easy to teach accountability—but much harder to live it at home. Kristin and her husband Erik share real stories of marriage, parenting, and the messy, funny, humbling moments of practicing what they preach with QBQ.
Thanks for joining us today!
Find out more about QBQ! training opportunities at www.QBQ.com.
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Stop Trying to Fix Your Spouse (or Your Boss)
What’s the #1 takeaway from QBQ? According to creator John G. Miller, it’s simple: I can only change me.
In this episode, John and Kristin unpack how that truth transforms marriages, parenting, and workplaces alike. From counseling breakthroughs to a young wife who literally saved her marriage with QBQ, the stories highlight the freeing power of personal accountability.
Stop trying to fix others—discover what happens when you focus on yourself instead.
Thanks for joining us today!
Find out more about QBQ! training opportunities at www.QBQ.com.
Follow us...
Leading with Accountability: Vortex Optics’ CEO Joe Hamilton on the QBQ! Mindset
Kristin talks with Joe Hamilton, CEO and President of Vortex Optics, about building a thriving family business through consistency, service, and personal accountability. Joe shares Vortex’s journey from a small trade show tent to the world’s largest sport optics brand, his first encounter with QBQ!, and how its principle-based approach became part of the culture at Vortex. With personal stories—from folding laundry with his kids to owning mistakes at work—Joe shows how QBQ! habits create a ripple effect across teams and customers. He also reveals Vortex’s mission to “Create A Rare Experience” (C.A.R.E.) and why...
Kill the ‘We’: Why Accountability Is Always Personal
Why “we” dilutes accountability. Kristin explains why QBQ is always about the “I”—and how shifting your questions can drive real personal accountability. At QBQ, Inc., we've spent over two decades helping teams and individuals understand the power of PERSONAL accountability. Listen in to find out how we make sure to differentiate QBQ! from others forms of accountability training.
Thanks for joining us today!
Find out more about QBQ! training opportunities at www.QBQ.com.
Follow us!
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How We Do QBQ! Today: Building Cultures on Personal Accountability
In this episode, Kristin and her dad, John, pull back the curtain on how QBQ! operates today—from selling books and licensing training to delivering powerful keynotes and workshops. They reflect on what makes QBQ successful in organizations long-term, share behind-the-scenes stories from clients like Husqvarna and Kiddie Academy, and emphasize the role of leadership ownership in sustaining change. You’ll hear why QBQ isn’t just a one-time program—it’s a cultural shift. Plus, a few laughs, a little parenting wisdom, and an open invite to share your own QBQ story!
Thanks for joining us today!
How We Do QBQ Today: Books, Training, and Speaking
🎙️ Current Day QBQ: How We Help Organizations Build a Culture of Personal Accountability
In this episode, Kristin and her dad, John, pull back the curtain on how QBQ! operates today—from selling books and licensing training to delivering powerful keynotes and workshops. They reflect on what makes QBQ successful in organizations long-term, share behind-the-scenes stories from clients like Husqvarna and Kiddie Academy, and emphasize the role of leadership ownership in sustaining change. You’ll hear why QBQ isn’t just a one-time program—it’s a cultural shift. Plus, a few laughs, a little parenting wisdom, and an...
The Story of QBQ! – Part 4: How the QBQ Spread
In this episode, John and Kristin pick up where Part 3 left off—sharing what happened after the first QBQ book hit the shelves. Hear how one self-published book titled Personal Accountability evolved into multiple editions of QBQ! The Question Behind the Question, and how unexpected moments—like a request from a hotel chain or a question from an audience member—shaped the content and the company. From living rooms to boardrooms, the message of personal accountability has stuck with people for decades, creating a ripple effect across industries.
Join us as we explore how real feedback, practical tools...
The Story of QBQ! Part 3: The Leap that Launched QBQ!
“Where did QBQ come from?”
It all started with 10,000 hours — hours spent listening to managers, leading workshops, and asking: “What’s the better question?”
From the back of training rooms to a moment on a treadmill in 1994, John Miller saw it clearly: organizations thrive when people take personal accountability. The Question Behind the Question (QBQ!) was born — not in theory, but in real-life stories of people pointing fingers, complaining, and waiting for “them” to fix it.
In 1995, John took the leap: he left a secure career, invested his own money, and stepped onto stages nation...
The Story of QBQ! Part 2: If You Don't Like Your Life, Change It!
What happens when one bold piece of advice changes everything?
In Part 2 of the Story of QBQ! series, we dive into the pivotal moment when a friend challenged John Miller with seven powerful words:
"If you don't like your life, change it!"
That spark led John to walk away from his safe desk job and take a leap into sales—a world he knew nothing about. Guided by a mentor who let him fail his way forward, John built the foundation that would eventually launch his successful speaking career and the creation of...
The Story of QBQ! Part 1: Before the QBQ--The Early Life of John G. Miller
In this episode, we take a step back in time to explore the early life and beginnings of John G. Miller — long before he became the author of QBQ! and a leading voice on personal accountability. From growing up in a large family in Upstate New York to navigating his first jobs and early career challenges, John shares the moments and influences that shaped his values, work ethic, and eventual path as a speaker and writer. Interviewed by his eldest daughter and co-speaker, Kristin Lindeen, it’s a personal, down-to-earth look at the man behind the message.
Whet...
Launching The QBQ! Podcast
Whether you’re aiming to take your business to new heights, increase sales and productivity, or raise confident, responsible kids—you’re exactly where you need to be.
What’s the secret? It’s the power of personal accountability — and it all starts with the bestselling book QBQ! The Question Behind the Question.
If you haven’t read it yet, we highly recommend picking up a copy. It’s packed with practical wisdom that can transform how you lead at work, grow as a parent, and succeed in life.
Every episode of our podcast...
