The H2 Leadership Podcast

Alan invites you to pull up a chair at our hub space in Colorado Springs as we hear from members of Leap Year.  Leap Year is a 12 month program developed for hungry leaders who are making a big jump. Leap Year is half way over and these leaders are learning a TON. We unpack their growth, challenges, new relationships and the importance of finding your crew if you are going to attempt big things. We are BIG fans of this Leap Year community and you will be, too!

On this weeks episode we're bringing you up close and personal with a unplanned and unexpected podcast recording. With no intention of recording a podcast episode Alan hit play halfway through a coaching session with pastor and content creator, Brent Minter. On this episode they talk about the value of coaching, what "feeding the ox" looks like and why dreams start with steps. Our next Effective leadership development cohort is quickly approaching. If you or someone you know are wondering what it takes to continue developing as a leader then consider joining our next cohort.  learn more here: https://effective.stayforthcoaching.com

On today's episode, Alan talks to entrepreneur an author Matt Shoup. Matt started with a simple business; painting houses. He's evolved into a dynamic business leader, business coach, and inspirational communicator. He shares a surprising message on how to compost our failures into success and how to show up and be you (not the gal or guy down the street). This one is helpful for anyone who fears failure (yep, that's all of us).   About Matt Matt Shoup is a serial entrepreneur, bilingual keynote speaker, and award-winning business leader who is passionate about inspiring entrepreneurs in realizing their leadership potential. Since 2005, Matt has founded six successful companies and been featured on Fox Business, the BBC, U.S. News & World Report, and Entrepreneur. A Brazilian jujitsu black belt, Spanish coffee addict, aspiring paella chef, and fan of all things Spain, Matt lives in northern Colorado with his wife, Emily; their children, Riley and Hailey; and Romeo, their giant schnoodle.  Connect with Matt Website: https://www.mattshoup.com/ Books: https://www.mattshoup.com/books/ More from Stay Forth EFFECTIVE: Leadership development cohort waitlist Download this free tool: 

A healthy Sabbatical has three distinct phases; Prepare, Experience and Reorient. Without a framework for Sabbatical it can be harmful to the leader, their family and their organization. With this simple framework leaders can design a healthy, life-altering Sabbatical. On today's episode, Alan Briggs and Chad Lunsford share the three phases of sabbatical in a simple and practical way that continues to demystify sabbatical. They also invite listeners to attend our upcoming "Demystifying Sabbatical" training on March 1st this is free to attend so click the link below to register. More from Stay Forth Demystifying Sabbatical Training: https://training.stayforthcoaching.com EFFECTIVE: Leadership development cohort waitlist Download this free tool: 

On today's episode, Alan Briggs shares about the "quiet quitting" epidemic and a few surprising ways to fight it. Is the quiet quitting epidemic about laziness, disengagement or poor workplace practices? It's complicated, but there are steps you can take to fight it. Let's dive deep on this. More from Stay Forth EFFECTIVE: Leadership development cohort waitlist Download this free tool:   

On today's episode, entrepreneur and operations expert, and high capacity leader Allison Caffrey joins us for a conversation about the importance of systems within an organization and why a properly planned system for mastering maternity leave creates a healthier culture, and helps teams lead more effectively before, during and after maternity leave.    About Alyson Alyson Caffrey is the founder of Master Maternity Leave and the Master Maternity Leave Signature Course. She spent the last five years as a small business operations consultant in her company, Operations Agency, helping streamline the back-end ops for a multitude of brands. Since entering motherhood, her mission is to help small businesses and mompreneurs realize maternity leave as an opportunity, not a setback. Before becoming a mom, Alyson had never taken more than a week off from her business- nor did she want to! However, she knew she had to change something in order to prepare to take some time off and augment her day-to-day to fit her new lifestyle when she returned to work post-baby. Shocked at the lack of structured information available regarding planning maternity leave for female business owners, she decided to lean in and document her experience prepping, executing, and returning from maternity leave - twice in seventeen months! Alyson found that few small business owners had a plan of action for how they handled tasks, cross-training and shifting responsibilities for expecting parents. They shared that this led to parents returning to work with lots more on their plate than when they left, team members bothering them while out on leave with emails and meetings… and even early returns.  Alyson made Master Maternity Leave, a series of resources for mompreneurs (expecting moms running their own shop) and small businesses with expecting employees. Her goal is to use her skills as an operator to help centralize the company’s procedures and training and create overall transparency internally so that when someone goes out on leave, team members know how to shift and accommodate.  Alyson now runs Operations Agency, a bustling home with two young sons (Frank, 2 years and Jack, 8 months), and helps expecting entrepreneurs prep for this massive shift in life and business. Connect with Alyson Website: https://mastermaternityleave.com/about/ Download a free planning checklist at Mastermaternityleave.com From Stay Forth EFFECTIVE: Leadership development cohort waitlist https://effective.stayforthcoaching.com  

On today's episode, Alan talks with Pastor, Author, and leader Jimmy Rollins about his new book Love Outside the Lines: Beyond the Boundaries of Race, Difference, and Preference.    About Jimmy Jimmy Rollins is the former lead pastor of i5 City Church just outside of Baltimore, Maryland. A revelatory preacher, visionary leader, and generous pastor, Jimmy’s entire ministry is fueled by Jesus’ command to serve the least of these. He and his wife, Irene, founded i5 City Church on that premise and mission, and together they have built an influential church known for local outreach and global impact. Jimmy also serves as an overseer for a variety of churches throughout the country, and in his position as a strategic partner of the Association of Related Churches (ARC), he has had many opportunities to teach countless churches and church leadership teams all over the world. Jimmy is also a champion for the marginalized in society, and through his work in the area of racial reconciliation, Jimmy has mediated many conversations promoting awareness, healing, and unity. On June 7, 2020, Pastor Jimmy led over 2,000 community members in a Walk for Justice, a peaceful demonstration promoting justice and racial equality. This event at the City Dock of Annapolis brought together people of all colors and faiths, as well as police officers and government officials, in an effort to speak out against racism in America. Jimmy and Irene have been married for more than twenty years, and, although they have walked through extremely difficult seasons, they can testify to God’s transformative healing power in bringing them to a place of mutual health and joy. Together they lead a vibrant church and parent their three wonderful “almost-grown” children, Kayla, Jaden, and Maya. Connect with Jimmy Website: https://www.iamjimmyrollins.com Instagram: @iamjimmyrollins  Twitter: @iamjimmyrollins  From Stay Forth Download this free tool: www.weeklyplanninggrid.com

We're back!     On today's episode, Alan unpacks some of the absolute best opportunities you have as a leader in 2023.  If you're like most people you're most likely running after your goals and plans for this year. If you're serious about your leadership development (and we know you are) Join Alan for EFFECTIVE: Quarterly Leadership Development Cohort.  You can find all of the details right here.   https://effective.stayforthcoaching.com  

  On today's episode Alan and Jonathan as they kick off our summer series "Words to Live and Lead By," a transformative journey that challenges leaders to apply powerful words to their lives and leadership. While we often use words to inspire and influence others, we tend to neglect their application in our own journey. Join us as we uncover the transformative potential hidden within words we hear on a regular basis. These words may have become mere buzzwords in our busy lives, but it's time to embrace them as catalysts for personal growth and sustainable leadership impact. What to expect Throughout the series, we encourage an interactive approach to listening. Step out into nature, go for a walk, or engage in an activity while reflecting on the words discussed. Remember, change of place and pace can lead to a change in perspective. Join us on this immersive and coaching-like experience, as we set the stage for a summer of exploration, reflection, and actionable insights. Get ready to unlock the power of words and become a healthier, more impactful leader. Tune in and be part of the conversation using the hashtag #WordsToLiveAndLeadBy on your social media. Don't miss out on this opportunity to transform your leadership from a place of health and find sustainable impact.

In this episode Alan shares four common phrases leaders say that are indictors that they need coaching. Alan also shares our five step process for coaching leaders through the fog into clarity and a new future. We've seen these work time and time again. If you resonate with these you're normal, but you can't stay there! Reach out for a free Breakthrough Coaching Conversation at hello@stayforth.com

 Today's episode was so insightful that we are bringing it back. We are reaching a point in the year where lives are shifting, routines are changing, and demands are increasing. What are you supposed to do when faced with navigating these changes? Do you try to balance them all? Is that even possible? Listen in and find out. Alan welcomes High power executive, coach and author Jaime Villalovas about how she balances leading companies, being a mom of 4 and inspiring people around the globe. She shares her story and a helpful grid for how to filter your opportunities.    About Jaime Jaime Villalovos grew up in rural Montana, the oldest of six kids. After she graduated high school, she moved to California, where she met her husband, Shawn. Together, they became successful entrepreneurs and she was a seven-figure earner before the age of 30. They are active philanthropists, serving on the board of the All For One foundation, as well as antibullying and children’s wellness organizations. They are also very active in their community. Their passion is to help people reach their biggest goals while finding true happiness. They currently live in Southern California with their four children. Jaime loves reading, working out, and traveling the world on fun adventures with her family. The Happy & Strong mission is to touch 100 million lives through the education, philanthropy, and leadership efforts of Jaime and Shawn’s team. Connect with Jaime Book Website Instagram Level your leadership Join our EFFECTIVE Leadership Development Cohort

Leadership is two-fold. you MUST be others aware but you also MUST be self aware. Healthy, effective, and impactful leaders understand this tension and utilize specific skills to help them lead themselves and others for the long haul. On today's episode, Alan shares the first five core skills every healthy leader must develop to lead for the long haul. Our effective leader cohorts cover these skills in depth and we take the time to help you apply them to your leadership context. These skills are so essential that we decided to overview them in this two part series.  Hold on for the second half next week. Take notes, share with your teams, and consider registering for our next cohort Today.  Effective Leaders Cohort https://effective.stayforthcoaching.com

On today's episode, Alan sits down with CEO, author and wealth coach Melissa Hughes to talk about money and underlying beliefs that hold us back from unlocking our soul purpose. Melissa provides expert advice and wisdom straight from the intersection of the spiritual and the practical and sheds light on gaps we tend to have about money. Feeling unsure of your finances right now? You need to ingest this episode   About Melissa A self-made millionaire by 31, Melissa Hughes is the founder of the Live Rich. Spread Wealth. Global Movement, which is changing the lives of businesspeople worldwide. She is a master business coach, best-selling author, international speaker, and consultant. Her mission: to help entrepreneurs and individuals at large companies to accomplish their business goals (including massive profits) while staying connected to their authentic self, transforming the world, and creating lives of limitless abundance. Known as The Guru of Implementation®, Melissa’s success, and that of her clients, is a result of her practical, proven systems for business and life success. Her clients include companies like Microsoft, Motorola, ESPN, and globally recognized speaker Lisa Nichols, star of the hit film, The Secret, as well as small start-ups and individuals. Large corporations around the world hire Melissa to advise them on projects and initiatives to the tune of $20 million, and she specializes in helping to ensure culture, communication, project scope, and implementation are successful across divisions, departments, and business units. Melissa is a dynamic, transformative speaker who has presented to companies and at entrepreneurial events, conferences, universities, and associations throughout the U.S. and in Ukraine, Dubai, Costa Rica, Canada, Bali, Tokyo, and Amsterdam, to name a few. Thanks to her high-accountability and firm-love coaching style, Melissa’s coaching clients (who number in the thousands) have created massive results in their business and personal lives. Melissa, a wife and the mom of a seven-year-old global citizen (who has already been to 14 countries), serves as a board member on the Detroit Chapter of the Entrepreneur Organization. She has worked with leaders, trailblazers, sleeping giants, and entrepreneurs worldwide, helping them live their divine purpose and a full life. CONNECT WITH MELISSA Melissa@LiveRichSpreadWealth.com MelissaHughes.com LiveRichSpreadWealth.com LinkedIn: Melissa-Lisa-Hughes-MHA-PMP Facebook: TheGuruOfImplementation Instagram: @IAmMelissaHughes MORE FROM STAYFORTH EFFECTIVE: Leadership development cohort waitlist Download this free tool: 

Get ready for a new concept we're kicking off on the Stay Forth Leadership podcast! live coaching sessions with Alan. On today's episode, Alan coaches Jerry, a nonprofit leader, through a brief yet impactful coaching session. He helps Jerry clarify his current reality and future dreams, and provides practical next steps to help him move forward. Now, it's your turn. We invite you to join us for a free live coaching session on the podcast. Simply send an email hello@stayforth.com and share the area of confusion you'd like to gain clarity on.  

There's a lot of talk about sabbatical these days, which is encouraging. But if we don't clarify WHY sabbatical is helpful and WHAT it actually is then sabbatical can cause harm to leaders and organizations discussing them. Sabbatical is a gift, but must be carefully understood and stewarded. Properly planned and navigated. On today's episode, sabbatical coaches Alan Briggs and Chad Lunsford talk about sabbatical in a simple, practical, and informative way and invite listeners to attend the upcoming "Demystifying Sabbatical" training on March 1st. It is free to attend and the link to register is below. More from Stay Forth Demystifying Sabbatical Training: https://training.stayforthcoaching.com EFFECTIVE: Leadership development cohort waitlist Download this free tool: 

On today's episode, Alan interviews speaker, author, and coach, B.J Thompson. The two discuss B.J's new book "Awaken a Better You" and 4 practical steps anyone can take for lasting change within their life and leadership.   About B.J. BJ is a life coach, speaker, and author who helped launch one of the largest faith movements in recent history – the “116 Movement” with Grammy award winning artist Lecrae. He also served alongside Bryan Loritts to expand groundbreaking racial reconciliation work in Memphis, TN. BJ has worked with tens of thousands of individuals and couples all over the world helping them experience personal and relational growth. Currently BJ serves as the executive director for Build a Better Us. He has a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of North Texas and a master’s degree in Christian studies from Union University. He has been featured in Relevant Magazine, Propel, Christianity Today, Barna, & other publications. He has also worked with History Chanel, RZIM, ERLC, Desiring God, Universities & other corporations. He and his wife Vanja have been married 16 years and live in Atlanta with their three children. Connect with B.J. Book Website From Stay Forth Download this free tool: www.weeklyplanninggrid.com  

Organizations don't get healthier on accident. Healthy leaders intentionally lead them there. That also means leaders don't get healthy on accident, their practices get them there.   On today's episode, Alan unpacks several non negotiable practices for healthy leaders to become more effective, and impactful no matter where they lead.    Consider this What got you here won't get you to the end of this year. These practices are a great start to help you take a practical next step. BUT, if you want to make a lasting investment in your leadership or your teams leadership then join Alan for EFFECTIVE: Quarterly Leadership Cohort. You'll learn new skills, disciplines, and new concepts to help you lead more effectively, more confidently, with greater clarity, increased health, and long-term impact.

Leader, welcome back to 2026. We're going straight at it. Instead of starting the year with goal setting alone, we're going beneath the surface to who you are as a leader. Because here's the reality: you have way more influence than you think — and how you wield that leadership influence shapes everything around you. This episode kicks off our new series on The Five Spheres of an H2 Leader, starting with Influence. Over the next five episodes, we'll unpack the foundational areas every Healthy + High Impact leader must pay attention to: Influence, Health, Self-Awareness, Design, and Space. Today, we're tackling the first sphere: how to use your influence to build empowering cultures instead of toxic leadership environments. The Tale of Two Leaders One leader I coach lives under the shadow of an insecure boss who constantly needs attention and affirmation. This sharp, competent leader has been slowly diminished over time — beaten down by someone who doesn't comprehend their own influence. The other leader I coach does the exact opposite. They're constantly asking, "How can I raise my team up? How can I get them to shine?" They form a protective line so their people — especially young leaders — can succeed. Beat down or lift up. That's the question. Do the people around you feel diminished by your presence, or empowered by it? What You'll Learn About Leadership Influence: Why your mood and emotional presence change the atmosphere of every room you enter The difference between wielding influence to diminish vs. multiply team effectiveness How unexamined leadership authority wounds people (even when you don't mean to) Why creating empowering cultures requires regular rhythms, not one-off gestures Practical ways to delegate effectively and raise others up without losing organizational effectiveness How to prevent leadership burnout by building trust-based team dynamics The 70% rule for when to hand off responsibilities and empower team members Three Steps to Healthy Leadership Influence: Comprehend the power you have — Ask your team how your leadership impacts them (both positively and negatively) Find tangible ways to raise others up — Give credit, take blame, empower decisions, delegate authority Stay grounded with a posture of service — Regularly, not just once a year. This is how sustainable leadership works. Signs You're Using Influence Poorly: Your team hesitates to bring you problems or bad news People wait for you to make every decision (no empowerment) You walk into meetings grumpy and the whole room shuts down Team members don't feel trusted until they've "earned it" High turnover or quiet quitting in your organization How to Build an Empowering Culture: Start with trust instead of making people earn it (Stephen Covey's "Speed of Trust" principle) Use the 70% rule: If someone can do it 70% as well as you with upward momentum, hand it off Give credit publicly, take blame privately Bring others with you to high-visibility opportunities Create decision-making frameworks so your team can act without you Reflection Questions for Leaders: Who are you actively empowering right now? How are you specifically doing that? Do people around you feel lifted up or beat down by your leadership? What would your team say about your emotional presence? Memorable Quote: "The leader who does not comprehend their influence is bound to wound the people around them." What's Next in This Series: Next week, we dive into Sphere 2: Health — why leaders who don't take care of themselves can't sustain impact. If you want to lead with clarity instead of chaos in 2026, this series is your foundation. Take Your Next Right Step: Visit h2leadership.com for leadership coaching, team consulting, and resources to help you lead as a Healthy + High Impact leader. If this episode served you: Rate and review the podcast Share it with another leader dealing with team dynamics or leadership burnout Subscribe so you don't miss the rest of the series on sustainable leadership Leadership is complex, but it doesn't have to be lonely. Let's get after it.

January is loud. Everywhere you look, leaders are being told to set bigger goals, move faster, and start strong. But what if the reason you feel stuck, unclear, or overwhelmed right now isn’t a motivation problem or a discipline problem? What if it’s a season problem? In this New Year–focused episode, Alan Briggs helps leaders slow down just enough to ask a better question before setting goals for 2026: What season of leadership am I actually in right now? Because when goals don’t match seasons, leaders burn out, teams get frustrated, and momentum stalls. This conversation reframes New Year goal-setting through the lens of leadership awareness, helping you name where you’ve been, where you are, and what kinds of actions actually make sense in this season of life and leadership. And stay to the end — Jonathan tees up a brand new series launching next week: The Five Spheres of an H2 Leader, designed to help you lead with both health and high impact in 2026. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why January goal-setting often creates pressure instead of clarity How to identify the season of leadership you’re currently in Why the question “What time is it for you?” matters more than resolutions How leadership seasons show up across work, family, health, and relationships Why ignoring seasons is one of the fastest paths to burnout How to pair the right actions with the season you’re actually living in Reflection Questions (for early January clarity) Don’t rush these. These questions are meant to ground your New Year, not hype it. What season of leadership are you coming out of? When did (or will) that season end? What season are you in right now — or clearly heading into? What should you say yes to in this season? What should you say no to in this season? What feels uncertain, scary, or disorienting about this transition? These are powerful to work through alone — and even more powerful with a spouse, trusted friend, or leadership team. What’s Coming Next Next week, we launch a new series walking through The Five Spheres of an H2 Leader — how to identify them, strengthen them, and lead in a way that’s both sustainable and impactful. If you’re starting this year wanting clarity instead of chaos, you’re in the right place. Call to Action For more leadership resources, coaching, and tools to help you lead with health and high impact, visit www.h2leadership.com. If this episode helped reframe your New Year: Follow or subscribe to the podcast Leave a rating and review Share this episode with a leader who feels pressure to “get it right” this year

Feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or like everyone needs you all the time? You're not actually stuck, you just need a way out. Alan Briggs shares 4 practical pathways to break free and lead with clarity in 2026. Happy New Year—and welcome to Episode 500! When we started this podcast, it was just a wild idea. 500 episodes later, we're more convinced than ever: leadership doesn't have to cost you everything. You can lead well and live well. To kick off 2026, Alan tackles something most leaders are feeling but few are naming: leadership claustrophobia—that squeezed, stuck sensation where everyone needs you all the time and there's no way out. Here's the truth: You feel stuck. But you're not actually stuck. Alan walks through the four feelings that keep leaders trapped—overwhelmed, myopic, exhausted, and behind—and gives you a clear, practical pathway out of each one. This isn't theory. It's the same framework Alan uses with the leaders he coaches every day. If you're heading into 2026 saying "everyone needs me all the time," this episode is your reset. What You'll Learn The 4 Leadership Traps + Their Pathways Out: → Overwhelmed? You're lacking creativity. The pathway out is space—build gaps into your calendar so your brain can think again. → Myopic (stuck in the weeds)? You're lacking perspective. The pathway out is vantage—schedule a Think Day and lift above your leadership. → Exhausted? You're lacking freshness. The pathway out is recovery—Sabbath and vacation aren't luxuries, they're necessities. → Behind? You're lacking urgency. The pathway out is constraints—small deadlines create the momentum big goals never will. Key Takeaways "You feel stuck, but you are not actually stuck. You have options. You can change things." The shift from victim to designer: stop reacting and start creating pathways out. When clarity goes up, overwhelm goes down. Think Days: a quarterly rhythm to get above your leadership and solve the big problems you keep kicking down the road. Sabbath and vacation are always important, never urgent—you won't feel like you need them until you should have had them three months ago. Constraints create urgency. Without deadlines, we procrastinate. Without sub-goals, we drift. Timestamps 00:00 — Welcome to 2026 + Celebrating 500 Episodes 01:30 — What is Leadership Claustrophobia? 02:45 — The lie: "Everyone needs me all the time" 03:30 — From Victim to Designer 04:15 — The 4 Feelings That Keep Leaders Stuck 04:45 — Overwhelmed → Space 07:00 — Myopic → Vantage (Think Days) 10:00 — Exhausted → Recovery (Sabbath + Vacation) 13:30 — Behind → Constraints (Deadlines + Tracking) 17:00 — Recap: Which trap are you in? What's your next step? 18:30 — What's coming in 2026 Reflection Questions Which of the four traps are you most stuck in right now: overwhelmed, myopic, exhausted, or behind? What's one practical change you can make this week to create space, vantage, recovery, or constraints? When was the last time you took a full day just to think? What would it take to put a Think Day on your calendar this quarter? Resources Mentioned Anti-Burnout by Alan Briggs: Amazon Link Right Side Up Journal: Alan's tool for weekly reflection—looking backward, inward, and forward. Connect With H2 Leadership Website: www.h2leadership.com Coaching: Ready to break out of leadership claustrophobia? Book a Breakthrough Session Podcast: www.h2leadershippodcast.com Help Us Reach More Leaders If this episode helped you, take 30 seconds to rate, review, and share the podcast. It's the best way to help other leaders discover H2. Happy 2026. Let's keep climbing. The H2 Leadership Podcast is your practical resource for becoming a healthy and high-impact leader. New episodes every Thursday.