The Energized Leader

What does Olympic level resilience look like in real life leadership? In this episode of The Energized Leader Podcast, host Desi Payne sits down with Nikki Stone, Olympic gold medalist and motivational speaker, for a powerful conversation about mental toughness, resilience, and leading under pressure.
Nikki shares the moment 10 doctors told her she would never return to aerial skiing and how she rebuilt her body and mindset to come back and win Olympic gold. You will hear practical strategies leaders can use to stay focused in high pressure environments, including thought stopping, preparing for worst case conditions, and focusing on the next step instead of the applause.
You will also learn Nikki’s “turtle effect” for success, why clarity and trust create a positive workplace culture, and how energized leaders instill energy in others to drive performance. If you are leading a team, building culture, or pushing through obstacles, this episode will help you bounce back stronger and lead with confidence.
 
 

What does it take to build an award-winning workplace culture that earns Best Places to Work 2025 for the third year in a row?
In this episode of The Energized Leader Podcast, Desi Payne sits down with Richard Ollis, CEO of Ollis/Akers/Arney Insurance & Business Advisors, an employee-owned company in Springfield, Missouri, known for exceptional culture, transparency, and people-first leadership.
Richard shares how he evolved from a “command and control” leadership style into service-oriented leadership, and why that shift transformed everything. You will learn the culture strategies that drive real engagement, including inclusive decision making, company-wide transparency, equity ownership, top-tier benefits, and how benchmarking helps organizations become an employer of choice.
You will also hear how Richard creates a standout employee experience through a purposeful onboarding process, including his “first hour, first day, first week” approach and why meeting new hires personally matters. Plus, Richard explains how humor, curiosity, routines during tough seasons, and personal development create momentum, retention, and team pride.
If you want practical leadership ideas to energize your team, strengthen culture, and build a workplace people truly love, this episode is packed with strategies you can use right now.
 
Ollis/Akers/Arney Insurance & Business Advisors: https://ollisakersarney.com/
Richard Ollis LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-ollis-325a417/
CONNECT WITH DESI:
https://www.desipayne.com/
www.linkedin.com/in/desipaynemotivationalspeaker
www.youtube.com/c/desipayne
Instagram: @Desi.Payne
Facebook: @DesiPayneMotivationalSpeaker
 
 

In this episode of The Energized Leader Podcast, Desi Payne sits down with Tom Douglas of JMARK, a recognized voice in AI, business strategy, and workplace culture. Tom shares insights from his economic forecasting, the changing workforce, and the mind blowing technology that is shaping the next decade. He also reveals why leadership development is more important than ever, especially as middle managers are stretched thin and many employees feel disconnected at work.
You will hear what Tom believes defines an energized leader, why vision creates momentum, and how leaders can build a culture where people feel safe, celebrated, and appreciated. Tom explains how JMARK earned recognition as a top workplace by being intentional about employee experience, including appreciation days, hiring based on core values, and prioritizing employee health and wellbeing.
Plus, Tom shares his personal strategies for staying energized, the leadership lesson he would change if he could go back in time, and a powerful gadget recommendation that helps leaders stay organized in conversations.
If you want to strengthen workplace culture, boost employee retention, and lead with clarity through uncertainty, this episode is full of practical insights and inspiration.
Tom Douglas Website:  https://www.adaptordie.com/
Tom's Favorite Gadget:  Plaud AI Voice Note Pro Recorder: https://a.co/d/ihRQLFX
Tom's LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomashdouglas/
 
CONNECT WITH DESI:
https://www.desipayne.com/
www.linkedin.com/in/desipaynemotivationalspeaker
www.youtube.com/c/desipayne
Instagram: @Desi.Payne
Facebook: @DesiPayneMotivationalSpeaker

In this powerful episode of The Energized Leader Podcast, Desi Payne sits down with David Cameron, City Manager of Springfield, Missouri, to talk about a topic leaders cannot afford to ignore: mental health.
David shares the real story behind his high-performance leadership journey, including what he learned from growing up in a small Missouri town, leading city growth and development, and helping secure major projects like Amazon’s million-square-foot facility during the height of COVID. But beyond the achievements, David gets honest about the hidden weight many leaders carry, and why success at work can sometimes mask pain, burnout, and trauma.
You will hear how David discovered the importance of counseling, emotional awareness, and taking intentional time away from work to reset his mind and reconnect with life. He explains his groundbreaking leadership practice called Freedom Leave, a bold approach that requires leaders to take extended time off with no email, no calls, and no work contact, so they can truly disconnect, reflect, and return healthier.
This episode is packed with practical takeaways for leaders, managers, HR professionals, and anyone who wants to create a workplace culture where people feel supported, valued, and cared for both on and off the clock. If you want to lead with energy, courage, and authenticity, this conversation will challenge you, inspire you, and remind you that your mental health matters.

In this episode of The Energized Leader Podcast, Desi Payne sits down with Dave Hirst, a school nutrition leader who proves that the best leadership strategy is simple: empower your people. Dave shares why nearly his entire team followed him to a new district, how trust and valuing people creates loyalty, and what it looks like to decentralize leadership so teams grow with confidence and ownership.
You will also hear how Dave leads 23 school kitchens and 100 team members, serving approximately 18,000 meals a day, while building a positive workplace culture rooted in fun, laughter, and connection. He explains how school nutrition professionals influence students every day, why feeding kids impacts behavior and learning, and how his team designs menus by listening to students and reducing food waste, with one unforgettable leadership lesson: feed kids, not trash cans.
If you lead in education, school nutrition, food service, or any people focused organization, this conversation will give you practical leadership ideas to strengthen culture, increase trust, and help your team thrive.

What does energized leadership look like inside a high impact school district? In this episode of The Energized Leader Podcast, Desi Payne interviews Dr. Grenita Lathan, superintendent of the largest public school district in Missouri, and a Women Who Mean Business award recipient. 
Dr. Lathan shares practical education leadership strategies for building an energized workplace culture, increasing staff engagement, and strengthening school community connections. You will hear how she fuels enthusiasm across classrooms and departments by leading with relationships, recognition, and approachability, plus the simple ways she uses humor and connection to break down walls. 
You will also learn about her initiatives like Let’s Talk Live (bringing feedback and problem solving directly into the community), Superintendent Solutions (student voice and leadership input), and Read to Succeed (a literacy focused effort that supports student growth). If you lead a team in education, business, or any people focused organization, this conversation delivers real world takeaways to help you lead with energy, confidence, and heart.
 

In this episode of The Energized Leader Podcast, Desi Payne sits down with Donna Isgett, President and CEO of McLeod Health, to unpack what energized leadership looks like inside a high pressure healthcare environment. Donna shares the one word she believes defines an energized leader, enthusiastic, and explains how enthusiasm spreads when leaders connect people to purpose and consistently show up for their teams. 
You will hear practical, leader tested strategies for building a culture where people stay, serve, and truly love where they work. From “wearing sneakers and walking the halls” to asking employees what they would do differently if they were the CEO, Donna reveals how visibility, listening, and follow through create trust and momentum across seven hospitals and a workforce of about 14,000 employees.
In this episode, you will learn:
Why enthusiasm is contagious, and how it helps people believe in themselves
How “walking the halls” builds connection, accountability, and culture
A simple question that uncovers real improvements, fast
How Donna protects teams from burnout with a clear “family first” leadership standard
The leadership advice she gives every leader, and why it works: “Get over yourself”
If you want to strengthen engagement, boost morale, and lead with purpose, this conversation will energize your leadership toolkit.
CONNECT WITH DESI:
https://www.desipayne.com/
www.linkedin.com/in/desipaynemotivationalspeaker
www.youtube.com/c/desipayne
Instagram: @Desi.Payne
Facebook: @DesiPayneMotivationalSpeaker

In this episode of The Energized Leader Podcast, Desi Payne sits down with Logan Aguirre, owner of 417 (Four One Seven), a media and lifestyle brand based in Springfield, Missouri that celebrates community, connection, and experiences across the Ozarks.
Logan shares what it’s like to lead a family business, buy it from your parents, and grow into leadership through trial by fire, including the lesson she’d redo if she could, which is more listening. She opens up about hitting an energetic wall as an entrepreneur, when you’re the owner and you can’t just quit, and how she began rebuilding her spark through radical accountability, brave decisions, and clearer vision.
You’ll hear practical strategies for leaders who can’t take a month off, like Quarterly Clarity Breaks (even 24 hours) to unplug, reflect, and reset your leadership energy. Logan also shares what an energized workplace culture looks like, including vision plus input plus trust, strong communication, and empowering people to operate at their highest level.
If you’re feeling stuck, burned out, or overloaded, this conversation will help you re-energize your leadership, create capacity, and lead with intentionality, starting with how you show up every day.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
How Logan rebuilt her spark after burnout without running away
A realistic reset tool, Quarterly Clarity Breaks, and how to do them
What energized culture actually looks like in a real business
Why intentionality is a leadership game-changer
CONNECT WITH LOGAN AGUIRRE:
https://www.417mag.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/loganaguirre/
 
CONNECT WITH DESI PAYNE:
https://www.desipayne.com/
www.linkedin.com/in/desipaynemotivationalspeaker
www.youtube.com/c/desipayne
Instagram: @Desi.Payne
Facebook: @DesiPayneMotivationalSpeaker
 

In this episode of The Energized Leader Podcast, Desi Payne welcomes Chris Robinson, Executive Vice President of Maxwell Leadership, for a powerful conversation on what it takes to lead with energy, clarity, and purpose. Chris shares insights from his USA Today bestselling book From Drift to Drive: A High Achiever’s Guide to Breaking the Chains of Complacency, including why complacency is not laziness, but “a secret place of satisfactory success.”
You will learn how energized leaders become the picture their teams can follow, why clarity creates momentum, and how to spot the subtle drift that can quietly stall growth. Chris also explains his unforgettable “rumble strips” analogy, a wake up call that helps leaders course correct before success turns into autopilot. 
Plus, Chris shares a surprising lesson behind “55 is greater than 800” and how personal growth can shift your trajectory in leadership and life. If you want to strengthen workplace culture, boost leadership development, and stay driven instead of drifting, this episode will energize you to take your next best step.
CONNECT WITH CHRIS ROBINSON:
https://www.chrisrobinsonspeaker.com/
Bible Clock: https://www.thebibleclock.com/
Book: From  Drift to Drive  https://www.amazon.com/Drift-Drive-Achievers-Breaking-Complacency/dp/B0DZDCR4BR
CONNECT WITH DESI PAYNE:
https://www.desipayne.com/
www.linkedin.com/in/desipaynemotivationalspeaker
www.youtube.com/c/desipayne
Instagram: @Desi.Payne
Facebook: @DesiPayneMotivationalSpeaker
 

Welcome to The Energized Leader Podcast with Desi Payne, where leaders learn how to build a positive workplace culture and stay energized in the middle of overwhelm, deadlines, and difficult people. In Season One, Desi shares practical leadership strategies that boost morale, motivation, and momentum, plus interviews with leaders from some of America’s top workplaces.
This episode kicks off the season with a powerful topic: reconnecting with your purpose. When leaders remember their “why,” energy rises, motivation returns, and even the daily grind feels meaningful. You will hear real stories, including an unforgettable reminder that what we do matters because it is always connected to who we serve and why we show up.
If you are a CEO, manager, school administrator, healthcare leader, city manager, or team leader who wants to reduce burnout and increase engagement, this episode will help you refocus your purpose, lead with clarity, and create an energized, excellent workplace.
CONNECT WITH DESI:
https://www.desipayne.com/
www.linkedin.com/in/desipaynemotivationalspeaker
www.youtube.com/c/desipayne
Instagram: @Desi.Payne
Facebook: @DesiPayneMotivationalSpeaker