The Uncommon Leader Podcast

What if your calling stayed the same, but your assignment changed? That’s the pivot Mac Lake made—moving from pastoring and church planting to building leadership pipelines for churches and, later, for businesses hungry to grow healthy leaders. We sat down to unpack the turning points, the practical frameworks, and the simple habits that turn lofty leadership talk into measurable impact.

Mac shares the “intervention” that ignited hi...

If you’ve ever wondered why good relationships quietly fade, this conversation will change how you lead, sell, and show up. We sit down with speaker and author Barb Betts to unpack a simple truth: relationships don’t fail overnight—they drift when we stop being intentional. Starting with the inner game, Barb reframes self-doubt and imposter syndrome as signs you’re stretching into growth, not proof that you’re a fraud. By 85, you’l...

What if the missing piece in your leadership isn’t a new tactic but a new identity? Coach and author Quinn Harwood joins us to unpack the Power of You, a practical path for zillennial leaders who crave meaning, impact, and confidence that lasts. We dig into his coaching fable, Growth Time, where each stop on a life journey mirrors a growth zone leaders must face, from escaping Uville’s ego traps to choosing a weekly mindset that ac...

What if your biggest breakthrough starts where you’ve been saying “can’t”? We celebrate episode 200 with Scottie Pennington, a COO who scaled operations across eight sites while proving that lean, faith, and relentless discipline can transform people and performance. From foundries and scrapyards to maintenance shops that used to be locked down, Scottie shows how 5S and clear communication can shift culture fast—especially when you...

What if the real problem on your team isn’t “people problems,” but the problems your people carry? We sit down with Matt Granados—founder of Life Pulse, author of Motivate the Unmotivated and The Intentional Week—to rethink leadership from the ground up. Matt makes a clear, compelling case for aiming at optimal performance: high output at a sustainable pace compared to yourself. No burnout badge. No hustle theater. Just systems tha...

A plant on the brink. Labor unrest, safety issues, shaky quality, and a community that had lost faith. Steve Matteson stepped into that storm with almost no runway and chose an unconventional starting point: listen deeply, walk the floor, and build a system people actually believe in. What followed is a rare, practical blueprint for turning a failing operation into a proud, profitable, and resilient culture.

We dive into the first 4...

Growth rarely stalls because the team isn’t smart enough; it stalls because everyone is running a different playbook. We sit down with Eric Pfeiffer to explore a leadership operating system that replaces drama with trust and equips people to think clearly under pressure. Instead of chasing a new tactic for every fire drill, Eric shows how a compact set of tools can align how your team communicates, decides, and learns—so talent com...

We explore how belonging, curiosity, and care create better people and better teams, drawing on rugby culture and cross-cultural roots. Josh Sutcliffe shares a practical coaching system for awareness, belonging, confidence, and a freedom model that balances structure with initiative.

• origin story shaped by moves across Australia and New Zealand
• rugby as connection, identity, and shared language
• champion defined as cari...

We explore how complacency hides inside success and how to replace drift with drive through clarity, filtering, relationships, and honest evaluation. Chris Robinson shares stories from the stage in Cambodia to the “55 is greater than 800” moment that reset his habits and focus.

Key Takeaways:

• redefining complacency as careless security and satisfactory success
• awareness as the gateway to overcoming underperformance
• clarity tha...

We explore what it takes to lead with courage and clarity when comfort pulls you off course. Chris Granger shares the story behind his new book, the move to a working farm, a serious injury, and the simple, repeatable practices that help men lead well.

• spiritual warfare and the call to fight back
• the gap between fellowship and discipleship
• seven areas of leadership for Christian men
• the Paul and Timothy...

Bob Wheatley (USA Today Author / Brand Builders Group) reveals the 70/30 Rule that launched his niche book to #8 National Bestseller. Learn why Sales is Fast and how to master the strategy of Uniqueness.

We explore the Pauline advantage and why singleness can be a season of strength, purpose, and undivided devotion to God. Bob Wheatley shares the 30-day challenge structure, a five-week church curriculum, and the sales-first strategy...

In this highly searchable and essential episode, host John Gallagher interviews Zach White, PhD, mechanical engineer turned executive coach and founder of the Oasis of Courage. This episode is a must-listen for Executive Leaders and Engineering Managers struggling with balance and burnout.

Zach destroys the conventional wisdom of Work/Life Balance, arguing it is a myth based on a flawed mental model. He presents the only path to sus...

In this episode of the Uncommon Leader Podcast, John Gallagher Jr. sits down with Bryan White—PhD scientist, CrossFit Level 3 trainer, and founder of Blue Eagle Fitness & Nutrition—to explore how small, consistent changes can transform your health, mindset, and leadership.

From mirror moments to almond parenting, Bryan shares his personal journey from corporate life to coaching leaders through sustainable wellness.

Key takeaways:

In this brand-new episode of the Uncommon Leader Podcast, John Gallagher Jr. sits down with Steven Gaffney to explore the mindset shift that separates high-performing teams from high-achieving ones.

John shares how leaders must evolve—not just change—to meet the demands of today’s chaotic world. From creating safe spaces for feedback to mastering mood discipline and honest communication, this episode is packed with practical strateg...

In this special throwback episode of the Fearless Faith Radio Show, host Mary Grothe welcomes John Gallagher Jr.—faith-based executive coach, performance consultant, and founder of Growing Champions—for a deeply personal and powerful conversation on integrating faith into leadership.

John shares his journey from a Catholic upbringing to discovering a deeper, more intimate relationship with God, and how that transformation shape...

Join us for a transformative conversation with John Gallagher, Founder & CEO of Growing Champions Coaching & Consulting.

In this episode, John unpacks the core of the Champion Mindset—inspired by sports legends like Kobe Bryant and Tom Brady—emphasizing perseverance, discipline, and the relentless pursuit of excellence. Discover the profound impact of Servant Leadership on corporate culture, drawing from John Maxwell’s philo...

Ken Miller’s story is one of radical resilience. From growing up in the foster care system to attending Dartmouth, battling addiction, and serving time as a three-time felon, Ken’s journey is a testament to the power of second chances.

In this episode of The Uncommon Leader Podcast, host John Gallagher sits down with Ken to explore:

👉His spiritual awakening and mindset shift
👉The leadership lessons learned behind bars
👉How...

What does it mean to retire at 23—and still work with passion and purpose?

In this episode of The Uncommon Leader Podcast, host John Gallagher welcomes Maritza Davila, a business consultant, speaker, and bold believer in values-driven leadership. Maritza’s journey is anything but conventional—and her frameworks are designed to help leaders move from chaos to clarity.

Whether you're an executive, an emerging leader, or someone na...

Join host Mitchell Levy and guest John Gallagher in an exploration of what it truly means for leaders to live their values. This episode dives into the profound journey of transforming pain into power, a critical step for any executive leader or CEO striving for authentic growth.

John shares a deeply personal insight: his biggest regret was allowing limiting beliefs, stemming from past hurts, to hold him back. Discover how overcomin...