Badass Leaders Podcast: Brave Hearts, Brave Conversations, Badass Leaders

Gamification expert Caitlin Johnson joins Angela Gill Nelms to unpack how leaders can transform their work, careers, and teams using game design thinking. 

From leveling up your career to designing systems that make hard things fun, Caitlin shares tactical strategies and hard-earned wisdom from her work coaching tens of thousands of leaders. They dig into motivation, breaking out of comfort zones, embracin...

Bud Moeller has built a career out of solving hard problems: from transforming global companies at Booz Allen and Accenture to mentoring future leaders, racing Ferraris, and flying jets. In this episode, he shares how real leadership comes from influence, not authority, and why most change efforts fail before they start.

We cover:

• The key ...
  

How a fighter pilot helped BP slash safety incidents by 70%—Andrew Dingee on systems, leadership, and learning from failure.

Andrew Dingee, former fighter pilot and BP executive, joins Angela Gill Nelms to share how aviation safety principles—like checklists, debriefs, and human factors thinking—can transform corporate culture. They discuss building systems that learn from mistakes, the role of leadership ...

In this episode of the Badass Leaders podcast, Angela Gill Nelms discusses the critical issue of burnout and offers a blueprint for achieving success without sacrificing personal well-being. 

Drawing from her own experiences, she emphasizes the importance of understanding burnout, setting boundaries, and leading by example. The conversation provides practical steps for leaders to maintain a healthy work-li...

In this deeply personal and inspiring episode of the Badass Leaders podcast, Angela welcomes Emmy Award-winning technologist and engineering trailblazer Cathleen Quigley, who shares her remarkable journey through Silicon Valley, Broadcom, and beyond. 

Cathleen opens up about pioneering broadband innovations, earning over 100 patents, and the emotional and professional complexity of transitioning later in l...

Former college football athlete turned powerhouse leader, Kofi Smith joins the Badass Leaders Podcast to share his journey from the field to the front office. In this raw and inspiring conversation, Kofi unpacks how discipline, resilience, and teamwork shaped his leadership style. He dives deep into the power of authenticity, conflict resolution, mental health, and the importance of embracing vulnerability. From overco...

In this insightful episode, Angela Gill Nelms explores the power of building an A-Team—your personal support system crucial for leadership success. Through compelling storytelling and practical wisdom, Angela breaks down the three essential roles every leader needs: boardroom mentors for strategic guidance, foxhole allies for emotional support, and locker room champions for motivation.

 She underscores the...

In this episode of the Badass Leaders Podcast, business coach and former Chick-fil-A leader Jacob Karnes shares practical insights on leadership, team dynamics, and employee retention. He dives into why clarity is a leader’s superpower, how to build strong workplace cultures, and why belonging matters more than money when it comes to retention.

Jacob discusses how to grow yourself and your team, the power ...

What does it really mean to lead with authenticity in a world that often rewards conformity? In this powerful episode, Kristi Straw—serial founder, leadership coach, and creator of the Unicorn Leader framework—joins host Angela Gill Nelms to unpack the real story behind effective leadership.

As she navigates toxic corporate culture and embraces emotional intelligence with compassionate communication, Krist...

In this powerful and thought-provoking episode, we sit down with leadership coach and global thinker Sophie Badré to explore what it truly means to lead in a multicultural world. Sophie unpacks the concept of peaceful leadership—a style rooted in kindness, self-awareness, and authentic communication—and why it’s becoming essential in today’s complex global landscape.

From her rich experiences working acros...

Conflict is inevitable, but how we handle it makes all the difference.

In this special “best of” episode, we’ve curated powerful moments from past guests who’ve shared their wisdom on navigating conflict at work and in life. From embracing discomfort to leaning into tough conversations, our guests offer practical strategies, candid stories, and refreshing perspectives on what it means to manage tension wit...

In this episode, Angela Gill Nelms sits down with Sherry Farrugia, Senior Vice President at Veranex, to unpack what it really takes to lead in today’s complex healthcare and life sciences landscape. From her decades in health IT to her work commercializing cutting-edge medical devices, Sherry shares the behind-the-scenes lessons that have shaped her leadership philosophy — one rooted in empathy, inclusion, and relentle...

In this special role-reversal episode of Badass Leaders Podcast, the mic is flipped! Angela Gill Nelms, usually the fearless host, takes the hot seat while her dear friend and fellow badass leader, Gia Ganesh, steps in as interviewer.

What unfolds is a raw, inspiring, and refreshingly candid conversation about leadership, resilience, and what it really means to be brave. Angela opens up about overcoming im...

In this episode, host Angela Gill Nelms chats with Tracy Lee—entrepreneur, technologist, and advocate for women in tech—about her journey from learning to code to leading in the health and life sciences space. Tracy shares why building community matters, how to hire for culture adds over culture fits, and why meaningful work resonates so strongly with today’s talent.

They dive into the nuances of leadershi...

In this insightful episode, Steve Garraty, author of Grapefruit, shares how his battle with cancer reshaped his views on life, leadership, and gratitude. The conversation explores the power of empathy in navigating grief, the role of appreciation in leadership, and the contrast between managers and true leaders. Listeners gain valuable insights on building a winning culture, transforming underperforming teams, and inte...

In this episode, Sherry Grote shares her journey from traditional marketing to becoming a licensed pastor and industry leader. She discusses balancing creativity with data-driven strategies, leading fragmented teams, and the power of communication in workplace culture.

Sherry also introduces Harmony Hero, an initiative empowering marketers and HR professionals to find their voice and drive change. The conv...

In this episode, we sit down with an insurance industry CEO Mark Williams to explore the nuances of authentic leadership. Our conversation delves into creating employee-centric cultures, fostering open communication, and balancing business goals with employee well-being. We discuss the significance of vulnerability, empathy, and personal branding, sharing insights on conflict resolution, embracing failures, and encoura...

In this insightful conversation, Jon Sexton shares his journey from aspiring musician to successful entrepreneur in real estate and health clubs. He emphasizes adaptability, mentorship, and the value of building a strong team. Jon explores leadership dynamics, employee transitions, and personal well-being alongside Angela Gill Nelms. They discuss handling separations with grace, balancing coaching with tough decisions,...

In this episode, Angela Gill Nelms talks to fighter pilot and leadership expert Brandon Williams, who shares powerful insights on building high-performing leaders by understanding human factors. 

He explores the critical role of work-life integration, daily habits, and mindfulness in effective leadership. The discussion also examines the challenges of leading in a VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, Ambigu...