The H2 Leadership Podcast

Leadership is challenging, a lot like climbing a mountain. The Stay Forth Leadership Podcast is a resource to help you become an effective leader- someone who is healthy, self-aware, and working with the grain of their gifting at a sustainable pace to produce long-term impact. Each week, Alan Briggs will hosts practical conversations to equip you with tools to produce the highest amount of change possible through new awareness, new information, new tools, and processes to guide you on your journey to become the healthiest leader you can be. Find out more about who we are and what we do at www.stayforth.com

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Episodes 297

The Way We Work Is Not Working
2mo ago · 24:39
Do we practice what we preach or produce? That's the question behind this conversation. As Jonathan prepares for sabbatical and the H2 Leadership team enters a different rhythm for the summer, Alan and Jonathan reflect on a challenge facing leaders everywhere. We live in a culture that rewards constant production, celebrates busyness, and always asks for more. More content. More output. More growth. More momentum. But what happens when the things we say we value collide with the way we're actually living and leading? The reality is that not every season is a harvest season. Not every season is
Summer Is Short. Here Are 4 Keys to Make It Count Before It Slips Away
2mo ago · 15:12
Time is the most precious resource a leader has, and summer might be the most underused stretch of it. The school calendar opens up. Work expectations soften. The world feels a little more breathable. And then somehow, before you've caught your breath, it's gone. Alan Briggs walks through four keys that turn summer from a season that happens to you into one you actually shape: space, replenishment, relational time, and growth. If you've ever hit the end of summer and thought "where did that go," this episode is the planning conversation you didn't know you needed. Who this episode is for If yo
The One Inning That Changes the Whole Game (And Your Leadership)
3mo ago · 30:42
There is a moment in every baseball game where everything stops. Not because something went wrong. Because the game was designed that way. The 7th inning stretch is not a timeout. It is not a sign of weakness. It is built into the structure of the game because whoever designed baseball understood something most leaders forget: you cannot finish strong if you never pause to reset. Jonathan and Alan bring back one of the most talked-about episodes from the H2 Leadership archives because heading into summer 2026, most leaders need this conversation more than ever. If you are six months in and run
Therapy, Spiritual Direction, or Coaching? How to Know Which One You Actually Need, with Tara Owens
3mo ago · 34:54
Tara Owens has spent over twenty years as a spiritual director, and she also trains other spiritual directors. She's the author of Embracing the Body, the executive director of a nonprofit, a boxer, and a coaching client of Alan's. That last detail matters, because this conversation is about something most leaders quietly wrestle with: which kind of helper do I actually need right now? Alan and Tara unpack the three lanes (therapy, spiritual direction, and coaching), where each one shines, where leaders most often apply the wrong tool to the wrong problem, and what it cost Tara to finally say
Retire Often Why the Best Leaders Take Halftime Seriously: with Jillian Johnsrud
3mo ago · 42:12
Jillian Johnsrud has taken thirteen mini retirements (sabbaticals) over the last twenty years. She's raised five kids (three adopted), built and renovated rental properties that changed her family's financial trajectory, and coached hundreds of leaders through their own sabbaticals. Her new book Retire Often might be the most practical and philosophically rich thing written on the subject. She joins Alan Briggs for a conversation about something most leaders get wrong: the assumption that caring about your work means never stepping away from it. Who this episode is for If you're a leader who r
Another Meeting That Could Have Been an Email: Redesigning How We Work Together with Rebecca Hinds
3mo ago · 32:51
Rebecca Hinds, researcher, organizational designer, and author of Your Best Meeting Ever joins the Alan Briggs for a conversation that is long overdue in most, if not all organizations. Alan has threatened to write a book about meetings for years. He no longer has to. Why? Rebecca wrote it. After 15 years studying how humans communicate and coordinate at work, Rebecca brings both the research and the practical frameworks to help leaders stop letting meetings kill their culture — and start designing them as the powerful, expensive tool they actually are. If you've ever sat in a meeting wonderin
What's Coming for the Church: Trends, Readiness, and the Leadership Shifts Nobody Is Talking About
4mo ago · 46:31
In this episode, Alan Briggs sits down with Holly Tate, founder of The Ready Network and a consultant who has spent 15 years serving churches, ministries, and organizations at the intersection of leadership development and strategic clarity. Holly brings a rare vantage point: nearly a decade at Vanderbloemen doing executive search for churches, four years as Chief Marketing and Services Officer at a leadership software company serving over 600 ministries, and now running her own coaching and consulting practice helping leaders and teams scale. The conversation covers a lot of ground and moves
Bridging the Gap: How We Building Leaders Create Trusted Teams with Laura Kriska
4mo ago · 36:07
In this episode, Alan Briggs sits down with Laura Kriska — cross-cultural consultant, speaker, and author of The Business of We — for a conversation about one of the most underestimated challenges in leadership today: the invisible gaps that keep teams from reaching their full potential. Laura was born in Japan, raised in Ohio, and spent her early career as the first American woman working inside Honda's Tokyo headquarters. What started as a fascinating cross-cultural immersion became a three-decade career helping leaders and organizations bridge the us versus them gaps that quietly undermine
Dream Big. Think Boldly. Do Now: With Mitch Matthew’s
4mo ago · 50:05
Making Time for Your Next Chapter — mitchmatthews.com/time (free with code H2LEADERSHIP) In this episode, Alan Briggs sits down with Mitch Matthews — coach, speaker, and host of the Dream Think Do podcast — for a conversation that feels less like an interview and more like two coaches getting honest with each other over coffee. Mitch is the CEO of a training organization focused on helping executives, entrepreneurs, and founders define what success actually means to them — and then build a plan to go after it. What unfolds is a wide-ranging, practical, and genuinely fun dialogue about dreams,
Fight for Space Why Every Leader Needs Micro, Medium, and Macro Breaks
4mo ago · 15:54
In this episode, Alan Briggs brings two of his popular Taking Steps video emails to the H2 Leadership Podcast — short, practical teachings he sends to leaders every couple of weeks. Today's focus is space. Not the theoretical kind. The kind you actually have to fight for in a real schedule with real demands pulling on you from every direction. If you're constantly behind, constantly stressed, and never quite present in the moment — Alan has a reframe for you. Space is not a luxury. It is an occupational requirement of leadership. And if you don't fight for it, it is not going to show up on its
Expanding Your Network Without Being Weird About It
5mo ago · 1:03:35
In this episode, Alan Briggs sits down with Stu Davis, Executive Director of COS I Love You — a Colorado Springs organization that brokers connection between the church, nonprofits, business, and public sector for a candid, practical conversation about what it actually looks like to expand your network without it feeling slimy, transactional, or just plain weird. This one was recorded live in a room full of leaders, and the energy of that conversation comes through. Alan and Stu have both spent years learning, and sometimes failing at the craft of genuine connection, and in this episode they p
Why I Was Wrong About Goals: Direction, Destination, and the Both/And of Healthy Leadership
5mo ago · 23:53
In this episode, Alan Briggs does something he's never done before — he opens by admitting he was wrong. For years as a leadership coach, Alan over-emphasized habits and healthy rhythms while under-selling the power of big, audacious goals. He watched too many leaders get crushed by massive targets they never hit, and he overcorrected. Now he's setting the record straight. The truth is, direction and destination aren't in competition. They need each other. Habits without a destination drift into maintenance. Big goals without daily rhythms become wishful thinking. The mature leader holds the t
What coaching actually does for a leader who is ready to grow.
5mo ago · 38:59
Most leaders have heard that coaching is valuable. Fewer have seen what it actually looks like from the inside. In this episode Alan Briggs and Jonathan Collier pull back the curtain on a real coaching relationship, using clips from Alan's conversations with Daryl Smith, gathering pastor at The Journey Church in Newark Delaware, to show what Healthy AND High Impact leadership looks like when someone does the work. Daryl stepped into a bigger role with real weight and made a decision: he was not going to just survive it. What happened next is exactly what H2 Leadership is all about. In this epi
Demystifying the Sabbatical: What It Is, Why Leaders Fear It, and Why You Can't Afford to Skip It
5mo ago · 48:09
Sabbatical gets misunderstood, feared, and misused — and most leaders either wait too long to take one or avoid it altogether. In this episode, Alan joins Andrew Estes on the Nexus Church Planting Podcast for a conversation that cuts through the baggage and gets honest about what a sabbatical actually is, why boards resist it, why church planters think they can't afford it, and why the leaders who take it well come back with more vision, more creativity, and more fire than they've had in years. If you've ever thought sabbatical is for someone else, someone further along, someone with a bigger
Tending the Orchard: Why the Work Below the Surface Is the Most Important Work You'll Do
5mo ago · 18:38
Why are we winning right now? I've sat with several leaders recently who are honestly asking that question. Not bragging. Not saying they're crushing it. Just genuinely trying to understand why the flywheel is finally spinning — why the fruit is finally showing up. The answer is almost always the same. They've been tending the grove for a long time. They just couldn't see it yet. In this episode, I'm talking about the difference between the grove and the grocery store — and why so many leaders are frustrated not because they're failing, but because their expectations are off. We want grocery s
5 Skills Every Leader Needs in the Age of Anxiety
6mo ago · 34:36
We are leading in one of the most anxious moments in recent history. The attention economy, the age of outrage, nonstop news cycles, and the pressure to have an answer for everything — it's a lot. And most leaders are moving from confusion straight to action without ever stopping to get clarity. In this episode, Alan Briggs shares five necessary skills he believes every leader needs right now. Not hacks. Not productivity tips. These are the deeper practices that keep you grounded, tethered, and leading with conviction instead of anxiety, even when everything around you feels like it's spinning
Lead Like the Boss: Andy Freed on What Bruce Springsteen Teaches Us About Leadership
6mo ago · 31:16
What does a rock legend who's been performing for 50+ years have to teach us about leadership? More than you'd think. Andy Freed has been to 95 Bruce Springsteen concerts. And somewhere along the way, he realized there's a reason they call him "the Boss"—and it's not just because he can put on a three-hour show at age 75. It's because Bruce Springsteen understands something most leaders miss: communication is leadership. And the way you communicate—your preparation, your energy, your intentionality—determines whether people follow you or just show up for the paycheck. Andy is the founder and C
Stop Running So Fast How Your Pace Determines Your Team's Health and Your Leadership Impact
6mo ago · 15:43
You're not behind. You're just running too fast. Most leaders think the answer to overwhelm is speed—more efficiency, tighter schedules, faster execution. But what if the real problem isn't that you're doing too little? What if it's that you're running at an unsustainable pace that's hurting you, your family, your work, and your team? In this final episode of our Five Spheres of an H2 Leader series, we're tackling pace, how fast you're running, why you're running that fast, and what it's costing you. Most leaders execute from anxiety and shame, not focus and clarity. They're running FROM somet
Discover Your Unique Design How to Maximize Your Talents and Stop Living Someone Else's Life
6mo ago · 16:17
You can never be them. They can never be you. So stop trying. In a culture obsessed with comparison and counterfeits, most leaders spend their entire lives trying to become someone else. They look at other leaders and think, "How do they do that?" They scroll through feeds, compare themselves to the competition, and slowly lose sight of the one thing that makes them irreplaceable: their unique design. Here's the truth: God put you on this earth with a unique spiritual, practical, relational, and emotional fingerprint. You are uniquely designed for impact. But if you don't understand your desig
The Self-Aware Leader How Your Emotions, Assets, and Liabilities Shape Your Team
7mo ago · 16:27
We're so busy watching everyone else—scrolling feeds, comparing ourselves to other leaders, checking what the competition is doing—that we've become incredibly others-aware and dangerously self-unaware. Self-awareness isn't a buzzword. It's the difference between walking into a meeting grounded or bringing your frustration, anxiety, and chaos with you—and watching it cascade to everyone around you. Here's the truth: as goes the leader, so goes the team. Your mood changes rooms. Your anxiety creates anxiety. Your groundedness brings clarity. In this episode, we're diving into the third sphere o
You're Not a Machine: Why Healthy Leaders Build Sustainable Impact | The Five Spheres of an H2 Leader (Episode 2: Health)
7mo ago · 22:25
Most leaders understand the importance of health—but few actually live it out consistently. In this episode, we're continuing our series on The Five Spheres of an H2 Leader with a focus on the second sphere: Health. This isn't just about eating better or working out more. It's about living integrated and aligned to your values and needs. Here's what we unpack: The Definition of a Healthy LeaderA healthy leader lives integrated and aligned to their values and needs. Integrated means what you say matches what you do. Aligned means nothing is wearing down in the background—no misalignment that ca
You Have More Influence Than You Think | The Five Spheres of an H2 Leader (Episode 1)
7mo ago · 18:19
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. Toda
New Year, New Goals? First Ask This: What Season of Leadership Are You In?
7mo ago · 16:44
January is full of goal-setting noise. Before you lock in your plans for 2026, this episode helps you ask a better question: What season of leadership am I in? Learn how season awareness leads to clearer goals, healthier leadership, and sustainable momentum.
Escaping Leadership Claustrophobia: 4 Pathways Out of Feeling Stuck
8mo ago · 21:14
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
Finish Strong, Start Clear: A Practical Framework to Prepare Your Leadership for 2026
8mo ago · 15:56
Merry Christmas!!!!! This episode is Part 2 of our year-end series. Last week, we walked through the internal shifts our team made this year. Today, we hand that same framework to you — so you can reset, simplify, and refocus your leadership as you prepare for 2026. This conversation is a practical guide to finishing well, regaining clarity, and building momentum without burning out or carrying unnecessary weight into the new year. You’ll learn: Why real momentum begins with subtraction, pruning, and clarity — not doing more How to create simple decision filters so every choice doesn’t drain y

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The H2 Leadership Podcast

Episodes 297

The Way We Work Is Not Working

Summer Is Short. Here Are 4 Keys to Make It Count Before It Slips Away

The One Inning That Changes the Whole Game (And Your Leadership)

Therapy, Spiritual Direction, or Coaching? How to Know Which One You Actually Need, with Tara Owens

Retire Often Why the Best Leaders Take Halftime Seriously: with Jillian Johnsrud

Another Meeting That Could Have Been an Email: Redesigning How We Work Together with Rebecca Hinds

What's Coming for the Church: Trends, Readiness, and the Leadership Shifts Nobody Is Talking About

Bridging the Gap: How We Building Leaders Create Trusted Teams with Laura Kriska

Dream Big. Think Boldly. Do Now: With Mitch Matthew’s

Fight for Space Why Every Leader Needs Micro, Medium, and Macro Breaks

Expanding Your Network Without Being Weird About It

Why I Was Wrong About Goals: Direction, Destination, and the Both/And of Healthy Leadership

What coaching actually does for a leader who is ready to grow.

Demystifying the Sabbatical: What It Is, Why Leaders Fear It, and Why You Can't Afford to Skip It

Tending the Orchard: Why the Work Below the Surface Is the Most Important Work You'll Do

5 Skills Every Leader Needs in the Age of Anxiety

Lead Like the Boss: Andy Freed on What Bruce Springsteen Teaches Us About Leadership

Stop Running So Fast How Your Pace Determines Your Team's Health and Your Leadership Impact

Discover Your Unique Design How to Maximize Your Talents and Stop Living Someone Else's Life

The Self-Aware Leader How Your Emotions, Assets, and Liabilities Shape Your Team

You're Not a Machine: Why Healthy Leaders Build Sustainable Impact | The Five Spheres of an H2 Leader (Episode 2: Health)

You Have More Influence Than You Think | The Five Spheres of an H2 Leader (Episode 1)

New Year, New Goals? First Ask This: What Season of Leadership Are You In?

Escaping Leadership Claustrophobia: 4 Pathways Out of Feeling Stuck

Finish Strong, Start Clear: A Practical Framework to Prepare Your Leadership for 2026

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Episodes 297

The Way We Work Is Not Working

Summer Is Short. Here Are 4 Keys to Make It Count Before It Slips Away

The One Inning That Changes the Whole Game (And Your Leadership)

Therapy, Spiritual Direction, or Coaching? How to Know Which One You Actually Need, with Tara Owens

Retire Often Why the Best Leaders Take Halftime Seriously: with Jillian Johnsrud

Another Meeting That Could Have Been an Email: Redesigning How We Work Together with Rebecca Hinds

What's Coming for the Church: Trends, Readiness, and the Leadership Shifts Nobody Is Talking About

Bridging the Gap: How We Building Leaders Create Trusted Teams with Laura Kriska

Dream Big. Think Boldly. Do Now: With Mitch Matthew’s

Fight for Space Why Every Leader Needs Micro, Medium, and Macro Breaks

Expanding Your Network Without Being Weird About It

Why I Was Wrong About Goals: Direction, Destination, and the Both/And of Healthy Leadership

What coaching actually does for a leader who is ready to grow.

Demystifying the Sabbatical: What It Is, Why Leaders Fear It, and Why You Can't Afford to Skip It

Tending the Orchard: Why the Work Below the Surface Is the Most Important Work You'll Do

5 Skills Every Leader Needs in the Age of Anxiety

Lead Like the Boss: Andy Freed on What Bruce Springsteen Teaches Us About Leadership

Stop Running So Fast How Your Pace Determines Your Team's Health and Your Leadership Impact

Discover Your Unique Design How to Maximize Your Talents and Stop Living Someone Else's Life

The Self-Aware Leader How Your Emotions, Assets, and Liabilities Shape Your Team

You're Not a Machine: Why Healthy Leaders Build Sustainable Impact | The Five Spheres of an H2 Leader (Episode 2: Health)

You Have More Influence Than You Think | The Five Spheres of an H2 Leader (Episode 1)

New Year, New Goals? First Ask This: What Season of Leadership Are You In?

Escaping Leadership Claustrophobia: 4 Pathways Out of Feeling Stuck

Finish Strong, Start Clear: A Practical Framework to Prepare Your Leadership for 2026

Podcast 森辺一樹のグローバル・マーケティング〜すべてはアジアで売るために〜