The Ron Table Ep 15: Thought Leadership vs. Clout Chasing: Are We Learning—Or Liking?

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When did “thought leadership” turn into a high-school popularity contest with ring lights? In this episode of The Ron Table, I sit down with co-hosts Nicole Gray and Laine Belcastro to separate real thought leadership (insight that changes how you think) from the algorithm-friendly soundbites that rack up likes but say nothing.

We talk authenticity over aesthetics, stories over quotes-on-Canva, and why “leadership that fits on a coffee mug” is…well…merch. Expect movie references (Mean Girls, Anchorman, Coming to America, Ghost), a Yankees sidebar, and a hilarious dryer-string near-death experience. More importantly, expect a candid framework for what useful leadership content looks like in 2025—and how to spot the difference between a true perspective and a discount-code pitch.

You’ll hear about:

• Thought leadership vs. influencer content (and why both exist for different jobs)
• How “algorithm-first” posting is insulting your audience’s intelligence
• The difference between motivation, information, and transformation
• Platform fit: where short clips belong and where deeper ideas should live
• A simple test: “Does this reframe my thinking—or just juice my dopamine?”

Question for you: Are you actually learning—or just liking? Tell us what you want more of in future episodes: real playbooks, case studies, frameworks, or quick hits.