The Energized Leader

What can you learn from ten incredible leaders in one podcast episode?
A LOT!
In Part 3 of my special celebration series, I’m sharing some of my favorite takeaways from episodes 28 through 37 of The Energized Leader Podcast.
We’re talking about:
✅ Building trust and psychological safety✅ Communicating with difficult or dysregulated people✅ Developing resilience when you want to quit✅ Creating an energized workplace culture✅ Motivating and recognizing employees✅ Replacing automatic “no” responses with solutions✅ Leading different personalities effectively✅ Keeping challenges in perspective
You will hear insights from Christine Trippi, Eddie Slowikowski, Mike McGrory, Holly Hoffman, Ken Hartley, Mensur Pudic, Vanessa McNeal, Tessa Kampen, Brad McCloskey, and Dana Nuesca.
Thank you for listening, watching, and helping The Energized Leader Podcast reach this exciting milestone. You’ve gotta start somewhere, and I cannot wait to see where we go next!
Listen now, choose your favorite leadership lesson, and let’s get energized!
 

The Energized Leader Podcast is celebrating 1,000 downloads!
In Part 2 of this special three-part leadership series, host Desi Payne revisits powerful lessons from Episodes 14 through 27. You will discover practical strategies to improve productivity, protect your energy, strengthen workplace relationships, build resilience, and create a positive workplace culture.  Guests include:  Jones Loflin, Jon Salvador,  Desi Payne, interviewed by co-host Garrett Ross and David Bossou, John O'Leary, Hoan Do, Hollie Tometich, Marie Cosgrove, Lynsey Mulder, Tania DeSa, Jason Dennen, Jeff Hendred, Antoinette Griffin, Dave Kauffman.
These memorable guests share insights on eliminating distractions, identifying your priorities, inspiring others, building authentic connections, recognizing employee strengths, creating psychological safety, and helping people feel seen, heard, and valued.
You will also hear remarkable stories of leaders who overcame devastating injuries, personal trauma, discrimination, business challenges, and unexpected setbacks. Plus, Desi explores how DISC personality styles and greater self-awareness can help leaders communicate more effectively, strengthen their teams, and lead with authenticity.
Whether you are a CEO, manager, business owner, educator, healthcare leader, or emerging leader, this episode offers practical leadership lessons you can use to energize yourself and the people around you.
Listen now, celebrate 1,000 downloads with Desi, and discover the leadership insights shared in Episodes 14 through 27 of The Energized Leader Podcast.

The Energized Leader Podcast has officially reached 1,000 downloads! To celebrate this exciting milestone, host Desi Payne revisits the first 13 episodes and shares powerful leadership lessons from each guest.
In Part 1 of this three-part celebration, discover practical insights from Chris Robinson, Logan Aguirre, Donna Isgett, Dr. Grenita Lathan, Dave Hirst, Dave Cameron, Tom Douglas, Richard Ollis, Nikki Stone, Dr. Bob Nelson, Linda Daugherty, and Dustin James.
You will learn how great leaders create clarity, overcome complacency, prevent burnout, build trust, support employee mental health, empower their teams, recognize employees, strengthen workplace culture, and energize others. You will also hear why leadership sabbaticals, meaningful recognition, resilience, purpose, and genuine connection can transform both leaders and their organizations.
Whether you are a CEO, manager, HR professional, educator, healthcare leader, or emerging leader, this episode is packed with practical leadership strategies you can use to create a more positive, energized workplace.
Thank you for helping The Energized Leader Podcast reach its first 1,000 downloads. This is only the beginning!

How can leaders motivate different personalities, build a stronger workplace culture, and stay organized when life and business feel overwhelming?
In this episode of The Energized Leader Podcast, Desi Payne talks with entrepreneur, author, and speaker Dana Nuesca about the leadership lessons she learned while building a successful business with her husband. Dana shares an honest look at the challenges of working with a spouse, protecting their marriage, leading employees with different backgrounds, and transforming a struggling workplace into a supportive team.
You will discover why effective leaders must adapt their communication and motivation strategies to each employee, how transparency and trust strengthen workplace culture, and why money is not the only way to reward people. Dana also explains how clutter and disorganization increase stress, consume valuable time, and drain mental energy.
Plus, Dana shares practical organization tips, the story behind her book Hot Mess to Not Mess, and how structure can help even naturally disorganized people become more productive.
If you want to improve employee engagement, communicate with different personalities, reduce workplace stress, and become a more energized and organized leader, this episode is for you.
Connect with Dana:https://hotmesstonotmess.com
(Dana's Full Bio Below)
Connect with Desi Payne:https://www.desipayne.com
#TheEnergizedLeader #LeadershipPodcast #WorkplaceCulture #EmployeeEngagement #LeadershipDevelopment #TeamMotivation #OrganizedLeader #BusinessLeadership
Dana Nuesca Bio:
Dana Nuesca married at 19, which most people will tell you is a terrible idea. Forty years later, she is still married, still standing, and has built an entire career out of proving most people wrong.
Dana holds a bachelor’s degree in communication from the University of North Carolina Wilmington and a master’s degree in management from Troy University. She has put those credentials to work as a franchise co-owner, author, and speaker. Dana and her husband, Kalani, co-own The Tailored Closet and PremierGarage in San Diego, where they have somehow managed to build a thriving business without either one filing paperwork on the other.
Dana is the author of Hot Mess to Not Mess: Kicking Indecision and Disorganization to the Curb and a contributing author to Her Next Level, a 21-author anthology featuring her chapter, “Her Commitment,” which does exactly what the title promises.
She is also the founder of HotMessToNotMess.com, where she helps business owners get out of their own way and, occasionally, their spouse’s way too.
Dana is a Jesus lover, the mother of one son, a grandmother of six, and, by multiple credible accounts, genuinely funny. Her clients agree. Her husband is still deciding.

What makes an energized leader? For Brad McCloskey, educational leader and incoming superintendent of Ottumwa Schools, it starts with relationships.
In this episode of The Energized Leader Podcast, Desi Payne talks with Brad about the leadership lessons he has learned throughout more than two decades in education, from science teacher and coach to principal, associate superintendent, and superintendent.
Brad shares why strong relationships are the foundation of effective leadership, how listening can strengthen workplace culture, and why leaders should resist the temptation to match someone else's negative energy during difficult conversations. He explains how listening sessions have helped employees feel heard and how following through on employee feedback can build greater trust within an organization.
You'll also discover Brad's perspective on building positive workplace culture, strengthening teams, managing stress, supporting employee wellness, using humor at work, and creating an environment where people can have fun while still achieving meaningful goals. Brad also discusses the challenges facing today's educators and why supporting teachers and recognizing the professionalism of education matters more than ever.
If you are a leader, educator, school administrator, manager, or anyone who wants to build stronger relationships and a healthier workplace culture, this conversation is packed with practical leadership wisdom you can use immediately.
In this episode, you'll learn:
Why relationships are at the heart of energized leadershipHow great teams help people thrive during difficult daysWhy leaders need to listen before reactingHow to handle conflict without matching someone else's negative energyWhy employee feedback must be followed by actionHow humor and celebration strengthen workplace cultureWays leaders can support employee wellness and resilienceWhy perspective is one of a leader's most valuable tools
Brad's final leadership advice says it beautifully: keep it in perspective. Problems may feel overwhelming in the moment, but leaders who bring people together, consider different perspectives, and remember to enjoy the journey can create workplaces where people and organizations thrive.
Read Brad McCloskey's Full Bio Here:
The Ottumwa School District Board of Education has selected Bradley McCloskey as the district’s next superintendent; his contract was approved by the Board at a special Board meeting this morning.
 
McCloskey is Ottumwa Schools' current associate superintendent, a role he has held since 2022. He started his career as an educator with the district in 2004, having served as a biology and anatomy teacher at Ottumwa High School for six years. He then taught science at West Branch Middle School for three years.
 
After serving as a teacher for nine years and an Upward Bound instructor at Indian Hills Community College, McCloskey shifted his career toward administrative roles. Before returning to Ottumwa as associate superintendent, he served as an assistant principal at Keokuk High School, as principal at Keokuk Middle School, and as principal for grades 5-8 in the Davis County Community School District.
 
Board President David Weilbrenner shared, “We were blessed with three outstanding finalist candidates; all of them could have done the job and done it well. However, as the process unfolded, Brad separated himself from the others and earned the position.” Weilbrenner added, “On behalf of the entire Board, I also want to thank the 65 or so people who served on the mixed interview teams and provided outstanding feedback to the Board on all the candidates. The data from the mixed interview teams solidified what the Board saw in Brad. We are thrilled that Brad rose to the top and will become our next superintendent.”
 
As associate superintendent, McCloskey led Ottumwa Schools in the adoption of district-wide instructional frameworks, along with professional development to support staff through their implementation. He also collaborated with the district’s human resources department to introduce new hiring practices designed to attract and retain educators.
 
“I am truly honored and grateful for the opportunity to serve as the next superintendent of the Ottumwa Community School District. We have an amazing team of professionals here, and it is my great privilege to work alongside them as we strive to make our district a premier destination and the best in Iowa,” said McCloskey. “I look forward to continuing and growing the legacy and vision established by Mr. McGrory and the school board. We will pay tribute to Mr. McGrory and all of our retiring staff through the achievements we will attain on our journey to "Be the Best."
 

How do great leaders build cohesive teams, create psychological safety, and work effectively with difficult people?
In this episode of The Energized Leader Podcast, Desi Payne talks with Tessa Kampen, facilitator and team engagement expert, about what it takes to create workplaces where people feel valued, understood, included, and energized.
Tessa shares why strong teams begin with understanding the people behind the job, not simply implementing better systems and processes. She explains the four stages of psychological safety, including inclusion safety, learner safety, challenger safety, and contributor safety, and why each one plays an important role in building trust and employee engagement.
You will also discover a powerful new way to think about difficult coworkers. Tessa challenges leaders to look in the mirror and ask, “What is it like on the other side of me?” before labeling someone else as difficult. She explains how curiosity, humility, self-awareness, and understanding can transform workplace relationships.
Plus, hear Tessa's memorable beach ball analogy for understanding another person's perspective and why understanding does not require agreement.
If you are a leader, manager, HR professional, team member, or anyone who wants to improve workplace culture, communication, trust, and connection, this episode is packed with practical leadership strategies you can use immediately.
In this episode, you'll learn:
How to build stronger, more cohesive teams
Why employees need to know their leaders genuinely care
The four stages of psychological safety
How psychological safety impacts engagement and trust
How to communicate with people who think differently than you
Why you may be someone else's “difficult person”
How to become more self-aware as a leader
How changing your perspective can improve workplace relationships
Why understanding someone does not mean you have to agree with them
Contact Tessa: https://tessakampen.com/
Contact Desi: https://www.desipayne.com/

What if the difficult person at work isn’t actually difficult, but dysregulated?
In this episode of The Energized Leader Podcast, Desi Payne sits down with neuroscience expert and speaker Vanessa McNeal to explore how understanding the brain and nervous system can transform workplace relationships, reduce conflict, and help leaders create healthier, more energized teams.
Vanessa shares practical strategies for dealing with difficult coworkers and employees, navigating challenging conversations, managing workplace stress, and recognizing the role nervous system regulation plays in leadership. You’ll learn how curiosity can replace judgment, why communication is critical during conflict, and how leaders can support employees experiencing burnout and overwhelm.
Vanessa also explains why an energized leader is magnetic, someone who can bring positivity and energy while also showing compassion, emotional intelligence, and presence when life gets difficult.
If you’ve ever struggled with a demanding boss, difficult coworker, burned-out employee, or stressful workplace relationship, this conversation will give you a fresh perspective and practical tools to respond differently.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
Why difficult behavior may actually be nervous system dysregulation
How neuroscience can help improve workplace relationships
A simple communication framework for handling conflict
How leaders can support employees experiencing burnout
Ways to stay centered and emotionally regulated at work
Why curiosity is one of the most powerful leadership tools
How small wins can help burned-out employees become engaged again
Contact Vanessa: https://www.vanessamcneal.com/
Contact Desi: https://www.desipayne.com/

What does it take to transform unimaginable adversity into determination, purpose, and success?
In this inspiring episode of The Energized Leader Podcast, Desi Payne sits down with Mensur Pudic, a Bosnian American motivational speaker, personal development coach, award-winning author, natural bodybuilder, and powerlifter. Mensur shares his powerful journey from experiencing war and genocide as a young child in Bosnia to arriving in Iowa as a refugee with only the clothes on his back.
He reveals how childhood trauma shaped his mindset, why he spent years operating in survival mode, and how personal growth helped him replace fear with faith, resilience, and purpose. Mensur also explains how our thoughts create beliefs, our beliefs influence our actions, and our actions ultimately determine our results.
Listeners will discover practical strategies for overcoming negative thinking, challenging limiting beliefs, creating meaningful goals, and developing the discipline required to achieve them. Mensur also shares three ways to become simply motivated: work toward meaningful progress, find something that deeply inspires you, and surround yourself with people who challenge you to grow.
This conversation is a powerful reminder that your past may shape you, but it does not have to limit your future.
To contact Mensur, go to: https://simply-motivated.com/
To contact Desi, go to: https://www.desipayne.com/
 

What separates memorable leaders from forgettable ones?
In this episode of The Energized Leader Podcast, Desi Payne talks with author, leadership expert, and professional illusionist Ken Hartley about the leadership illusions that can prevent people from building trust, communicating effectively, and creating a meaningful legacy.
Ken shares powerful insights from his book Leadership Illusions, including why a title does not automatically earn respect, why communication is not complete until understanding occurs, and why trust should be given until mistrust is earned. He also explains why leadership is not measured only by accomplishments, but by the lives we influence and the legacy we leave behind.
The conversation also explores Ken’s newest book, Calling the Presidents: Leadership Lessons from Every Commander in Chief. After spending 12 years visiting presidential libraries, homes, museums, birthplaces, and gravesites, Ken uncovered leadership lessons from every U.S. president.
You will hear fascinating stories about Franklin Pierce, James K. Polk, Grover Cleveland, James Monroe, and Jimmy Carter, along with practical lessons about remembering people’s names, setting a clear vision, telling the truth, establishing boundaries, delegating responsibility, and leading with integrity.
Listen to discover how energized leaders prioritize growth, connect before they communicate, influence without relying on a title, and create a legacy that lives on through others.
To contact Ken go to: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ken-hartley/
To order "Calling the Presidents," go to: www.callingthepresidents.com
To contact Desi go to: https://www.desipayne.com/
 

In this inspiring episode of The Energized Leader Podcast, Desi Payne sits down with Holly Hoffman, former Survivor Nicaragua contestant, motivational speaker, and author, to talk about resilience, mindset, courage, and what it really takes to survive life’s toughest challenges.
Holly shares what it was like to be dropped into the jungle with little food, constant rain, snakes, rats, howler monkeys, and no communication with her family. She opens up about the moment she nearly quit on day five, the powerful conversation with Jimmy Johnson that helped her get back up, and how one sentence, “We really need you,” changed the direction of her game.
This episode is packed with leadership lessons, workplace inspiration, and practical reminders for anyone facing burnout, uncertainty, adversity, or a difficult season. Holly and Desi discuss the power of asking for help, choosing your mindset, stepping out of your comfort zone, finding purpose, and surrounding yourself with people who lift you up.
Whether you are a leader, employee, speaker, entrepreneur, or someone who needs encouragement to keep going, this conversation will remind you that you are never one day short of changing your mindset, taking a new opportunity, and getting back up.