Daily Influence

We are living in a time where division feels amplified.Political tension. Social movements. Economic pressure.And in the middle of it all — leaders.In Episode 677 of Daily Influence, Brian Smith, PhD explores what it means to carry individual responsibility inside complex and divided systems.This episode challenges a dangerous myth: that responsibility disappears when systems are complicated.It doesn’t.It becomes more visible.🌟 In this episode:The difference between advocacy and disciplined influenceHow leaders hold strong values without polarizing their teamsWhy individual accountability still matters inside complex structuresResponsible leadership asks one critical question:“What is mine to own here?”Because history rarely remembers the system.It remembers the individual.📲 Listen now on your favorite podcast platform.#DailyInfluence #ResponsibleInfluence #LeadershipDevelopment #SMARTManagement #TheIinTeam

What happens when life shifts overnight—and you’re expected to show up at work like nothing changed? In this episode of Daily Influence, Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Barbara Palmer, founder of Your 4th Trimester and “Top Broad” at Broad Perspective Consulting, to talk about one of the most overlooked leadership transitions in modern work: returning after parental leave. With more than 30 years of experience across corporate culture, leadership, marketing, and professional development, Barbara supports working parents (and the companies that employ them) through the real-world “oh sh*t” moments—when priorities change, boundaries get tested, and confidence needs a reset. Barbara shares practical strategies that help new parents (and honestly… anyone) protect their time, reduce overwhelm, and show up with clarity—like her simple but powerful practice of blocking the last hour of the workday to close loops and set tomorrow up for success. They also explore how responsible influence shows up through boundary-setting, communication with managers, and creating cultures that truly support parents—not just in policy, but in practice. You’ll also hear how Barbara’s three-year nomad journey—living month-to-month in communities across the country—has deepened her beliefs about curiosity, kindness, belonging, and leadership without judgment. And she leaves listeners with her favorite two words for navigating hard seasons: “for now.” Connect with Barbara: Instagram: @topbroad LinkedIn: Barbara Palmer Website: broadperspectiveconsulting.com (including Your 4th Trimester + “Wisdom for Your Oh Sh*t Moments”)

We live in a culture that celebrates speed. Fast growth. Fast decisions. Fast pivots. Fast scaling. But as Brian Smith, PhD explains in this episode of Daily Influence, speed and readiness are not the same thing. Drawing from the longest and most in-depth chapter in The I in Team Series™ — “Slow Down” — Brian explores the hidden tax organizations quietly pay months or even years after moving too fast. In this episode: The difference between speed and structural readiness How shortcuts compound into operational and cultural debt Why urgency-driven cultures slowly exhaust trust Fast decisions are rarely free. The bill just comes later. If leadership is about protecting the future — not impressing the present — this episode is essential listening. #DailyInfluence #ResponsibleInfluence #SMARTManagement #LeadershipDevelopment #IntentionalLeadership

In this episode of Daily Influence, Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Parker Wilcox, founder of Lifeguard Protection, a health and life insurance agency built on trust, relationships, and service-first leadership. After navigating a career shift during the uncertainty of 2020, Parker made a bold move—leaving the property and casualty insurance world to launch his own agency focused specifically on health and life insurance. But what truly sets Parker apart isn’t just his niche—it’s his philosophy. Rooted in the principle of “givers gain,” Parker shares why leading with value—not sales—creates long-term trust, meaningful relationships, and sustainable growth. From serving blue-collar trades to becoming a “super connector” for clients and referral partners, he demonstrates how small, intentional actions can create powerful ripple effects. In this conversation, you’ll learn: • Why giving first builds credibility and influence • How collaboration fuels business growth • The difference between short-term wins and long-term impact • Why ethical, residual-based thinking strengthens trust • How your thoughts shape your circumstances—and your future Parker also shares a timeless book recommendation that reinforces personal responsibility and daily consistency as keys to growth. If you’re building a business—or simply striving to make a positive difference—this episode is a reminder that influence begins with service. Small actions. Daily consistency. Responsible leadership. Tune in and be inspired to lead with value. Connect with Parker: https://www.instagram.com/lifeguard.protection

Psychological safety is often described as a “soft” leadership concept — something rooted in feelings, kindness, or culture. But that’s not what it is. In Episode 673 of Daily Influence, Brian Smith reframes psychological safety as a structural performance system — not a mood, not a personality trait, and not an abstract cultural aspiration. When leaders see silence, hesitation, disengagement, or operational breakdown, the issue is rarely personality. It’s structure speaking. In this episode, Brian explores: Why safety is a performance system — not a feeling The hidden link between fear, silence, and operational inefficiency How leaders unintentionally reward the very behaviors they later try to correct What feels cultural is often structural. You don’t hope for psychological safety. You design it. Because structure is leadership. 🎧 Listen now and continue the journey of intentional, responsible influence.

In this episode of Daily Influence, Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Bryan Kramer, globally recognized keynote speaker, best-selling author, and a leading voice in human-centered leadership. Known for his powerful “H2H (Human to Human)” philosophy—made famous through his message: There’s no B2B or B2C… it’s H2H—Bryan breaks down what it really takes to lead with empathy and integrity in a fast-paced, noisy, and increasingly automated world. Together, they explore what responsible influence looks like right now: doing your homework before you share information, choosing honesty over hype, embracing imperfection, and simplifying how you show up so people can actually feel your presence. Bryan also shares how he uses AI as a thinking partner (not a replacement), and why the leaders who win long-term will be the ones who protect trust, deepen connection, and keep the human element at the center. If you’re building a team, growing a business, or simply trying to show up with more intention—this conversation will remind you that small, human actions still create the biggest ripple. Connect with Bryan: • Website: https://bryankramer.com/ • Email: private@bryankramer.com/ Bonus: Bryan is gifting the first three listeners a copy of his H2H book—email him with “HTH book” and Daily Influence in the subject line.

What if the key to happiness isn’t success, wealth, or recognition — but helping someone else? On this episode of Daily Influence, Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with film producer, social entrepreneur, and humanitarian Peter Samuelson to explore how influence, storytelling, and service intersect to create lasting change. From producing major Hollywood films like Revenge of the Nerds and Return of the Pink Panther to founding global nonprofits including Starlight Children’s Foundation, First Star, and Everyone Deserves a Roof (EDAR), Peter shares the pivotal moments that shaped his life of purpose. In this powerful conversation, you’ll hear: • How one teacher’s belief changed the trajectory of Peter’s life • The deeply personal story that inspired the creation of Starlight • Why “selflessness can be selfish” — and why that’s a good thing • How First Star is helping foster youth attend college at 10x the national rate • Why failure is essential to growth and responsible influence • The connection between storytelling, philanthropy, and real-world impact • His perspective on AI, ethics, and protecting young minds • Why helping others is the most reliable path to long-term happiness Peter reminds us that influence is not about accumulation — it’s about contribution. It’s about recognizing asymmetry in the world and choosing to apply energy where it’s needed most. Whether you’re a leader, parent, entrepreneur, or simply someone who wants to make a difference but isn’t sure where to begin, this episode will challenge and inspire you to step outside yourself and take action. Because as Peter says, the meaning of life isn’t found in what we gather — it’s found in what we give. Learn more at: Listen now and be reminded: small actions truly can create extraordinary impact.

Experience is one of leadership’s greatest assets — until it becomes unquestioned. In Episode 670 of Daily Influence, Brian Smith explores how success quietly hardens assumptions and how past wins can unintentionally block present clarity. While experience builds confidence, speed, and pattern recognition, it can also create rigidity if leaders stop examining what once worked. In this episode, Brian unpacks: How success institutionalizes thinking — and why that can become dangerous Why “we’ve always done it this way” frustrates teams and limits growth How SMART Six-to-Sixty planning prevents fossilized leadership Why structured feedback loops are essential to challenge inherited thinking True leadership maturity is not about abandoning experience — it’s about continuously recalibrating it. Because experience informs. It should not imprison. If you are serious about responsible influence, this episode will challenge you to ask: Where might my past success be limiting my present clarity? Find your influence. Be your influence. Build your influence — intentionally.

Is neutrality in leadership even possible? In Episode 669 of Daily Influence, Brian Smith challenges one of the most common — and most dangerous — myths in leadership: the belief that you can stay neutral. Silence is not the absence of influence. It is influence without ownership. When leaders avoid tension, delay difficult conversations, or choose not to clarify standards, they are still shaping culture. Silence communicates values. Silence signals what is tolerated. Silence protects systems — often at the expense of people. This episode launches a deeper season theme: Influence, Maturity, and Responsibility — moving beyond growth mechanics into consequence, awareness, and legacy. Because there is no off switch for influence. There is only conscious or unconscious leadership. Reflective Question: Where in your leadership are you calling something “neutral” that is actually a choice?

Understanding our influence allows us to understand that we are all leaders at different times within our areas of influence. Listen to this revisit of Daily Influence episode 74 where we define leadership in a different context.

After three decades of building organizations, systems, and leaders, experience teaches us more than how to lead — it teaches us what leadership requires. In this episode of Daily Influence, Brian Smith, PhD reflects on how leadership evolves from proving capability to stewarding responsibility. As influence expands, so does obligation — not just to results, but to people, systems, culture, and long-term impact. This conversation explores why mature leadership is less about speed and ego, and more about judgment, awareness, and intentional influence — especially in times of division, pressure, and constant visibility. Because influence is always happening. The question is how carefully we choose to use it.

So many high-achieving women quietly carry burnout that goes far deeper than a packed calendar and today’s conversation names what’s really happening underneath it. Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Dr. Julie Merriman, licensed mental health clinician, counselor educator, burnout researcher, author, and founder of the Soul Joy brand, to unpack what she calls identity burnout: the slow erosion that happens when we keep performing a role (dependable, capable, self-sacrificing) long after it stops being sustainable. Dr. Julie shares her personal turning point when outward success masked an inner emptiness and how that experience shaped the Soul Joy Method, a body-based path back to wholeness through somatic awareness, nervous system regulation, chakra psychology, and reconnection to purpose and relationships. You’ll also hear why resentment isn’t a character flaw it’s information and how tiny “micro-boundaries” can become the first step toward real change. Plus, Dr. Julie shares a grounded take on using AI as a support tool not a substitute for connection by clearing mental load so we can return to what makes life feel meaningful. If you’ve been feeling exhausted, invisible, stuck in obligation, or like you’ve lost yourself under responsibility, this episode will bring clarity, language, and practical first steps—because positive and responsible influence doesn’t start with doing more. It starts with listening more deeply to yourself. Connect with Dr. Julie: Website: https://www.juliemerrimanphd.com/ Book: In Pursuit of Soul Joy https://a.co/d/3HJtsnU

Thirty years ago, Individual Advantages began not as a firm with a master plan, but as a vehicle for learning — a place to observe how people behave when technology, pressure, and change enter their world. In this episode of Daily Influence, Brian Smith, PhD reflects on what three decades of S.M.A.R.T. Management — and a lifetime of learning, mistakes, and evolution — have revealed about leadership, growth, and responsibility. This conversation moves beyond celebration and into obligation: Why growth and scaling are not the same — and confusing them causes damage Why S.M.A.R.T. only works when it becomes a discipline, not a checklist Why mature leadership requires letting go of what once worked How influence without awareness becomes harmful, even with good intentions As Brian reflects on turning 60, this episode challenges leaders to slow down, listen to the present moment, and grow without breaking the people inside their organizations.

What if influence wasn’t about perfection, polish, or titles—but about energy, accountability, and how you show up for others? In this episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Chris Starkey, partner at Mojo Maker and the personality behind Dance Dad TV, to explore what positive and responsible influence looks like in real life. Chris shares his journey from performer and entrepreneur to purpose-driven leader, shaped by his daughter’s life-changing medical challenges and the special needs community that became his tribe. Through dance, storytelling, and intentional connection, Chris has built a community rooted in joy, inclusion, and momentum—both online and off. Together, Gregg and Chris discuss: • How accountability and humility strengthen influence • Why emotional intelligence (EQ) matters more than ever in leadership • Turning personal challenges into purpose-driven action • Using energy, creativity, and consistency to uplift communities • How giving—without expectation—creates impact that multiplies This conversation is a reminder that influence lives in everyday moments: how we listen, how we include, and how we lead with intention. Whether you’re a business owner, parent, creator, or community leader, this episode will encourage you to lean into connection and use your influence responsibly—one interaction at a time. Listen in and take your daily dose of positivity. Connect with Chirs: https://www.instagram.com/dancedad_starkey/ https://www.facebook.com/chris.starkey.142 https://www.youtube.com/@dancedadtv2874 https://www.chrisstarkey.com/

Join Brian Smith on this revisit to episode 226 of the Daily Influence as he delves into the power of fostering a growth mindset within your teams by defining and implementing equity and inclusion. Discover how promoting diversity and creating an inclusive culture can enhance continuous learning, resilience, adaptability, and psychological safety in your organization. Brian shares insights on how these principles align with organizational values, boost motivation, and engagement, and ultimately drive success for both individuals and the company. Tune in to learn how to uplift your team and create a balanced environment where everyone feels valued and empowered. #GrowthMindset #EquityInclusion #DailyInfluence #TheIinTeamSeries

Most leaders don’t wake up planning to react all day — but urgency keeps winning. Emails pull focus. Problems demand attention. Decisions stack up faster than they can be made. In this episode of Daily Influence, Brian Smith explains why reactivity isn’t a leadership flaw — it’s a systems signal. He explores how a lack of structure creates urgency, how leaders unintentionally become bottlenecks, and why disciplined cadence and accountability are the keys to moving from constant firefighting to intentional leadership. This conversation reframes leadership away from rescue and toward rhythm — showing how SMART, when practiced as both a framework and a discipline, creates calm, predictability, and steady progress even in uncertain environments. Leadership doesn’t scale through constant presence. It scales through systems that work when you step back.

Connection is not accidental — it’s intentionally designed. In this episode of Daily Influence, Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Aaron Smalls, host, DJ, Experience Architect, and creator of Charismatic Advantage: The Art of Social Energy. From his early days at Nickelodeon to commanding stages and designing high-trust experiences for audiences of 50 to 50,000, Aaron shares how presence, intention, and awareness shape meaningful influence. Together, they explore what responsible influence truly means — leading without ego, reading the room with integrity, and creating environments where people feel seen, safe, and empowered to be themselves. Aaron reveals how influence is less about performance and more about stewardship, reminding others of who they already are. They also dive into: • How social energy impacts leadership, communication, and trust • Why influence is an energy exchange, not a spotlight • Using AI as preparation — not replacement — for human presence • Protecting your energy in high-pressure environments • Why every moment, conversation, and space can be a stage for positive impact Aaron leaves listeners with a powerful reminder: influence doesn’t require a platform — just presence, care, and intention. Whether you’re leading a team, hosting an event, or connecting one-on-one, this episode will challenge you to think differently about how your energy shapes the experiences you create. Connect with Aaron: Website: https://aaronsmalls.com/ Social Links: Instagram: @CuriouslyTalented & @TheAaronSmalls https://www.linkedin.com/in/theaaronsmalls/

Most leaders believe they’ve been clear. Expectations were set. Goals were communicated. “Good” was explained. And yet — execution still breaks down. In this episode of Daily Influence, Brian Smith explores why the real breakdown isn’t effort or intent — it’s accountability. He unpacks why expectations without ownership create frustration, how accountability has been misunderstood as control, and why disciplined accountability actually frees people instead of pressuring them. This conversation reframes accountability as clarity with follow-through, shows how SMART makes accountability visible rather than emotional, and explains why strong accountability protects high performers while allowing leaders to step out of rescue mode. Expectations set direction. Accountability is what moves the work forward.

In this powerful episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Arianna Rose and Soleil Laurent, the visionary founders of Equality Education, an organization redefining how emotional intelligence is taught across schools, communities, and organizations. What began as a serendipitous friendship in Brooklyn during the pandemic has grown into a movement impacting over 100 New York City schools, partnering with major brands like Puma, Meta, NBC, and Bellevue Hospital, and placing more than 100,000 personal development workbooks into the hands of learners of all ages. In this conversation, Arianna and Soleil share: • Why emotional intelligence should be foundational in education—for students, parents, and leaders alike • How self-agency and self-love create ripple effects that transform relationships, teams, and communities • A deeply moving real-world story of how their affirmation tools helped a child in crisis • Their thoughtful approach to responsible AI use, balancing technology with human development • Practical encouragement for anyone who wants to create positive change—starting right where they are This episode is a reminder that meaningful influence begins within. When we understand ourselves, we lead better, love better, and build stronger communities—together. Connect with Equality Education Website: https://www.theequalityeducation.com/ Instagram (Equality Education): https://www.instagram.com/theequalityedu/ Instagram (Friends Who Want You to Win): https://www.instagram.com/friendswhowantyoutowin Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheEqualityEducation/

Speed gets attention. Patience builds trust. In this episode of Daily Influence, Brian Smith sits down with Mike Hinds, co-founder of Nashville Barrel Company, to explore what building a premium whiskey brand can teach us about leadership, influence, and long-term thinking. Mike shares how Nashville Barrel Company grew from handwritten labels on a coffee table to distribution in 36 states—without sacrificing quality, culture, or credibility. From resisting the pressure to scale too fast, to protecting brand identity in a crowded market, to treating people with the same care as product, this conversation is a masterclass in intentional influence. Whether you lead a company, a team, or simply yourself, this episode reminds us that the best results—like the best whiskey—can’t be rushed.https://www.nashvillebarrelco.comhttps://louisvillerickhouse.com/