The L3 Leadership Podcast with Doug Smith
The L3 Leadership Podcast is focused on leadership development and personal growth. We are obsessed with helping you grow to your maximum potential and maximizing the impact of your leadership. We release a new episode every week to help you grow and develop as a leader. You will hear a mix of personal lessons from our Founder, Doug Smith, and conversations Doug has with world-class leaders from around the world. Doug interviews leaders like Pittsburgh Steelers Coach, Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Penguins Coach, Mike Sullivan, Tony Horton, Liz Wiseman, Brian Tome, John Mark Comer, Mark Batterson, Ryan Hawk, Nona Jones, Claude Silver, Ken Coleman, Christy Wright, Rachel Cruze, Mark Cole, and many more. Our hope is that you will not only learn great leadership lessons but that you will catch great leadership from the lives of the leaders that we expose you to.
Episodes
In this episode of the L3 Leadership Podcast, Doug Smith sits down with Pastor John Nuzzo, founder of Victory Family Church and author of The Acceleration Mandate.
Pastor John is also one of the most influential voices in my life — my pastor, mentor, and spiritual father.
And honestly… this may be one of the most important conversations we’ve ever had on the podcast.
We talked about:
• Why most leaders accidentally...
Only 2% of Christian leaders make it to their finish line with their families, faith, and calling intact — and Doug Smith believes your health is one of the biggest reasons why.
In this powerful talk, Doug shares his personal journey from "Fat Dougie" to fit at 40, the wake-up call he got from his dad's triple bypass surgery, and the practical steps every leader can take to extend their life, energy, ...
In this episode of the L3 Leadership Podcast, Doug Smith shares a powerful message titled Advice for the 60+ Crowd: How to Make the Most of the Final Season of Your Life.
After speaking to a group of seniors at a local church in Pittsburgh, Doug realized this message applies to every leader—no matter their age. This episode is a call to live with intention, finish well, and invest your life into what matters most.
Dou...
In this episode of the L3 Leadership Podcast, Doug Smith shares a powerful talk he gave for Keller Williams titled How to Build a Great Life.
Doug walks through the principles that have shaped his own journey—from a difficult upbringing to leading a nonprofit, raising a family, and developing leaders—and challenges listeners to stop simply “accepting” life and start intentionally building one that truly matters.
This ...
Most leaders think they’re growing—but in reality, they’re just repeating the same year over and over again.
In this powerful conversation, Doug sits down with Chris Robinson, Executive Vice President of Maxwell Leadership, to unpack why over 90% of leaders plateau—and what it actually takes to reach your potential.
Chris shares the mindset shift that changed his life from chasing success to developing others, how to ...
What would people say about your life at your memorial service?
In this deeply personal episode of the L3 Leadership Podcast, Doug Smith shares the powerful leadership lessons he learned after attending the memorial service of legendary pastor and leader Jeff Leake.
For over two hours, story after story was shared about a man who finished his race with his faith, family, character, and calling intact. The experience f...
In this episode of the L3 Leadership Podcast, Doug Smith sits down with Dr. Tim Elmore, founder of Growing Leaders and bestselling author of The Future Begins with Z: 9 Strategies to Lead Generation Z as They Disrupt the Workplace.
After following Tim’s work for nearly two decades, Doug finally gets to have a conversation that every leader needs to hear. Together, they unpack the realities of leading Genera...
In this episode of the L3 Leadership Podcast, Doug Smith shares Part 2 of his annual reflection series, unpacking the final ten lessons he learned in 2025 and how they are shaping his leadership moving into 2026. Drawing from real conversations, leadership challenges, faith, and personal growth, Doug challenges leaders to rethink success, create margin, embrace hard seasons, and recognize the significance of the wor...
In this episode of the L3 Leadership Podcast, Doug Smith kicks off part one of his annual reflection series, sharing the most significant lessons he learned in 2025 and how they’re shaping his leadership in 2026. Drawing from his year-end review process, Doug offers honest insights on health, family, leadership presence, fatherhood, faith, and the unseen weight leaders carry.
⏱️ Episode Breakdown
0...
In this episode of the L3 Leadership Podcast, host Doug Smith sits down with returning guest Jeremy Pryor, founder of Family Teams, for a wide-ranging conversation on leadership, family, faith, and legacy. Jeremy shares how viewing the family as a team—not a temporary stage of life—can reshape how leaders think about generational impact.
00:00 – Welcome to the L3 Leadership Podcast
01:00 – Introducing J...
In this episode of the L3 Leadership Podcast, host Doug Smith shares his year-end review process, which has been a cornerstone of his personal growth since 2004. Doug discusses the importance of reflecting on the year gone by to foster growth and documents his detailed approach to conducting a comprehensive year-end review. He includes practical tips and encourages creating a personalized review system. Additionally...
In this episode of the L3 Leadership Podcast, Doug Smith delivers a reflective, practical lesson on leadership gifts worth sharing—especially when life gets busy. Using the backdrop of the holiday season, Doug unpacks a curated gift guide through the lens of leadership, family, personal growth, and mindful presence. He reminds leaders that tools, systems, and intentional habits don’t replace t...
In this episode of the L3 Leadership Podcast, Doug Smith talks with Peter Ostapko, co-founder of Kinsman Journal and leader of the growing Kinsman community in Springfield, Missouri. Peter shares his journey from a career in banking to launching gatherings designed to help men find authentic brotherhood, friendship, and faith-driven connection.
Together they discuss the loneliness epidemic among leaders, wh...
In this episode of the L3 Leadership Podcast, Doug sits down with Matt Higgins, Executive Director of Hope Children’s Home in Tampa, Florida. Matt shares the powerful mission of providing a loving home and education to children from difficult circumstances, along with their new Bundles of Hope initiative that gives mothers in crisis pregnancies the gift of time and support.
Links:
Epi...
In this episode of the L3 Leadership Podcast, Doug Smith shares a personal lesson on 9 Ways to Develop Your Character. As Doug explains, character development is the most important development for any leader—because without integrity, everything else eventually crumbles. Drawing from his own journey and the wisdom of mentors, Doug outlines nine practical and powerful ways to strengthen your character so that you can...
In this episode of the L3 Leadership Podcast, Doug Smith interviews Rob Dube, author of Shine: How Looking Inward is the Key to Unlocking True Entrepreneurial Freedom, co-written with Gino Wickman. Rob shares powerful insights on how leaders can balance their drive with inner peace, manage their energy, and lead with humility. From understanding the nature of being “driven,” to implementing the 10 Disciplines that p...
In this episode of the L3 Leadership Podcast, host Doug Smith flips roles as he is interviewed by Ron Moore on the Living Grounded Podcast. The conversation delves into a variety of leadership topics, including whether leaders are born or made, the importance of failure in growth, and the value of mentorship and personal development.
00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Today's Episode
00:41 Starting the Intervi...
In this episode of the L3 Leadership Podcast, host Doug Smith shares personal reflections and insights gained from turning 40. From expressing gratitude for life, emphasizing the importance of personal growth, to highlighting the significance of family and faith, Doug offers a comprehensive summary of his key takeaways over the years.
00:00 Introduction and Purpose
00:32 Turning 40: Reflections and Gra...
In this episode of the L3 Leadership Podcast, Doug Smith interviews Kent Chevalier, Chaplain of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Kent discusses his journey from a campus pastor to serving in the NFL, emphasizing the unique role he and his wife play in supporting players and coaches spiritually and emotionally.
00:00 Welcome Back, Kent Chevalier!
00:41 Role of a Chaplain in the NFL
02:00 First Year Experienc...
In this episode of the L3 Leadership Podcast, Doug Smith interviews Jeff Hancher, author of 'Firm Feedback in a Fragile World.' Jeff shares his journey from growing up in poverty to a successful 24-year career, emphasizing the pivotal moments shaped by firm feedback and strong leadership.
00:00 Welcome and Introduction
00:35 The Journey to Writing a Book
01:14 Overcoming Personal Struggle...
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