Claim OwnershipI Have Some Questions...
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Most people know the headline of a leader’s story. Few know the path it took to get there. This podcast goes beyond titles, book launches and business wins, to explore the lived journey behind the thought leader.
Through deep, unhurried conversations, we uncover the moments that shaped them—the doubts, pivots, convictions, and quiet breakthroughs that built their body of work.
Each episode features authors, coaches, executives, and bold thinkers who have forged their own path. Instead of rehearsed talking points, they’re invited into a space where thoughtful questions unlock something more human. The result is a layered conversation that reveals not just what they preach, but how they became the kind of person who can teach it.
Because we believe the best stories aren’t always told—they’re revealed. And when brilliant people are given the right questions and the room to answer them fully, what emerges is insight you can feel, frameworks you can apply, and a deeper understanding of what it truly takes to lead, create, and contribute at a meaningful level.
124 Episodes
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🧠 Erik's Take This conversation with Jake Stahl wasn’t just about communication. It was about redemption. Jake shared the origin story behind Own the Room, and it didn’t begin in a boardroom—it began in addiction. After knee surgery led to opioid dependency, his life unraveled: divorce, financial fallout, a damaged reputation. And in the middle of that collapse came a catalytic moment—staring at a prescription refill he could take… or refuse. He realized something profound: he was more willin...
Jake Stahl returns to the show with a powerful message: winning deals isn’t about talking more—it’s about reading the room better. This conversation goes beyond sales tactics. It’s about emotional intelligence, pattern recognition, and learning to adapt in real time. Erik and Jake explore how subtle cues—tone, hesitation, posture, language—signal opportunity or resistance long before a deal is won or lost. If you’ve ever walked out of a meeting thinking, “I felt like something was off…”—this ...
When Alli Murphy’s “not-an-SVP” LinkedIn post sparked hundreds of comments and DMs, it revealed something deeper: a quiet crisis around success. In this episode, Erik and returning co-host Alli unpack the generational tension around achievement, the invisible scripts we inherit about status and ambition, and why more leaders are choosing flexibility over prestige. From corporate ladders to ski days on Tuesdays, this conversation challenges the default definitions of success—and offers a more ...
🧠 Erik’s Take Leadership isn’t an upgrade—it’s a tradeoff. In this reflection on his conversation with Staci Lynn, Erik unpacks the uncomfortable truth most new leaders eventually face: the better you get at leadership, the less important your direct contribution becomes. What once made you valuable—doing the work—slowly fades as your real job becomes unlocking the capacity, judgment, and courage of others. This episode is about the identity shift that comes with that realization—and why resi...
What actually makes someone a good leader once the title changes? In this wide-ranging conversation, Erik sits down with Staci Lynn—COO, fractional executive, and senior living operator—to unpack leadership lessons learned the hard way. From managing without authority to leading former peers, from burnout to humility, and from system design to human development, this episode is a masterclass in what real leadership looks like when the stakes are high and the work is human. 👤 About the Guest S...
Even high-performing leaders hit walls. In this candid, unscripted conversation, Erik and recurring co-host Alli Murphy unpack something most leaders experience—but rarely admit: the funk. Whether it’s imposter syndrome before a keynote, burnout from pushing too hard, or the quiet spiral of overthinking, this episode dives into the real mechanics of getting stuck… and getting unstuck. From Peanut M&M reward systems to “Operation Off Duty” and Alli’s morning routine with “Earl,” this conve...
🧠 Erik’s Take Trust isn’t abstract—it’s already being calculated all around us. The problem is that most of the systems we rely on are crude proxies: resumes, credit scores, follower counts, and credentials that signal legitimacy without actually proving reliability. In this reflection, Erik unpacks Tony Camero’s vision for TrustMesh as a platform—not a prescription—that challenges how trust, value, and currency might be redesigned in a digital-first world. At its core, this episode isn’t abo...
In this conversation, Erik sits down with Tony Camero, founder of Scend Technologies and creator of TrustMesh, to explore one of the most foundational (and misunderstood) forces in human systems: trust. Together, they unpack how trust actually works between people, why our current digital systems distort it, and what happens when trust becomes computable—without becoming surveilled or centralized. This episode moves fluidly between philosophy, economics, blockchain, AI, leadership, and real-w...
Trust isn’t built by proving you’re right—it’s built by proving you’re safe to work with. In this co-hosted conversation, Erik and Alli unpack what it actually takes to earn trust when you’re new, misunderstood, or quietly doubted. They explore the tactical moves leaders can make to build credibility—and the internal work required to stay grounded when the room hasn’t decided to believe in you yet. This episode lives at the intersection of leadership, identity, and emotional regulation, tackl...
🧠 Erik’s Take In this Reaction Episode, Erik reflects on his powerful interview with Parth Vaghasiya—a tech leader from India rethinking how AI is actually deployed at scale. What stood out most wasn’t just Parth’s technical acumen or clarity around AI workflows, but his deep, human-centered leadership philosophy. This reflection underscores a critical truth: AI adoption is not a tool problem—it’s a trust problem. What matters more than what version of GPT you’re running is whether your peopl...
In this thought-provoking conversation, Erik sits down with Parth Vaghasiya, a technology and business leader from Gujarat, India, who’s quietly pioneering what it means to lead at scale with AI in emerging markets. Together, they unpack the hard truths about AI deployment: why most organizations struggle not because of the tech, but because of trust, clarity, and leadership habits. Parth doesn’t speak in trends—he speaks in frameworks, from firsthand experience building AI-integrated teams a...
In this co-hosted conversation, Erik Berglund and Alli Murphy explore a deceptively simple leadership trap: when your greatest strength becomes the very thing holding you back. From overthinking and realism to empathy and self-awareness, they unpack how internal “voices” can quietly hijack decision-making, stall progress, and limit leadership effectiveness. Through real stories, coaching insights, and practical reframes, Erik and Alli challenge leaders to stop letting one voice run the boardr...
🧠 Erik’s Take Erik reflects on his interview with Dr. David Nickelson, a true polymath with a rare blend of psychology, law, and business. What stuck with Erik wasn’t just David’s accomplishments—but how he thinks. This episode dives into the layered insights that emerge when someone integrates disciplines to solve complex problems. It’s part leadership lens, part self-awareness deep dive, and part creative reframe for anyone feeling boxed in by their own strengths. 🎯 Top Insights from the In...
Dr. David Nickelson is a clinical psychologist, attorney and business strategist whose career spans Capitol Hill to corporate boardrooms. In this episode, Erik explores how David’s rare combination of expertise makes him a true polymath—and what lessons leaders can draw from his multidisciplinary lens. From telehealth legislation in the ‘90s to modern AI governance, David brings a layered, practical, and deeply human perspective on leadership, influence, and adaptation. 👤 About the Guest Davi...
Uncertainty isn’t new — but leaders still keep making the same mistakes when it shows up. In this candid collab, Erik Berglund and co-host Alli Murphy unpack what not to do when things feel unstable, why our instincts often betray us, and how leaders can respond with intention instead of panic. From boundary erosion to over-functioning, this conversation is a grounded, practical look at leadership when the ground won’t stop moving. 🧭 Conversation Highlights Why uncertainty causes leaders to r...
🧠 Erik’s Take In this follow-up to his interview with Victor Almeida, Erik zooms out to reflect on what building a digital business really looks like in Latin America—and what North American entrepreneurs often take for granted. From basic infrastructure challenges to deep-rooted cultural wisdom, this episode is a powerful reminder that hardship often breeds the greatest human capital. And behind Victor’s startup dream is a deeper calling: to create opportunity where access has long been limi...
Victor Almeida joins Erik from Ecuador to talk about what it really takes to build and scale a digital company in Latin America. From leading operations at Promotick Mexico to bootstrapping a startup from scratch, Victor offers raw insight into navigating thin margins, unstable infrastructure, and investor skepticism. But what shines brightest is his human-first leadership, scrappy mindset, and a deep belief that meaningful change starts with people who are willing to take a risk—even when th...
It’s only mid-January, and Erik and Alli are already fielding DMs from high-achievers who are feeling… fried. Instead of the usual New Year buzz, there’s burnout, exhaustion, and the quiet voice saying, “I’m already over it.” In this episode, the two explore why this is happening, especially for those in leadership or “Chief Everything Officer” roles—and what to do when your drive turns into depletion. They talk about internalized rules, shifting incentives, false reward systems, and the unco...
🧠 Erik’s Take Erik reflects on his wide-ranging conversation with innovation expert Bruce Vojak and explores how innovation really works inside mature companies. While Erik lives and works in the world of startups and early-stage change, Bruce offered a deeply human, grounded perspective on how breakthrough ideas still emerge in the “slow lanes” of legacy organizations. Bruce’s insights revealed something profound: the best innovations don’t always begin with new technology — they begin with ...
What if the next big innovation came from a box cutter? Erik sits down with Bruce Vojak—advisor, executive, and author—to explore the surprising, human-driven process of innovation inside mature industries and companies. They unpack the difference between optimization and renewal, the danger of solving the wrong problem, and why some of the most impactful innovators are names you’ll never know. This conversation is a masterclass in shifting paradigms, staying curious, and creating the conditi...
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