The Unworthy Leader Podcast: Purpose Beyond Performance with Rod Francis (Ep12)

Welcome back to The Unworthy Leader Podcast, where we challenge traditional leadership roles and lean into the parts most people try to hide—self-doubt, fear, imposter syndrome, and the messy middle. In this episode, host Kendra Dahlstrom, executive coach to Fortune 500 leaders, sits down with Rod Francis, a former high-performance athlete and international model turned master coach and embodiment practitioner.

Rod’s story is one of radical reinvention—growing up under the shadow of a legendary Ironman father, discovering ballet as a teen, surviving the pressure of the fashion world, and navigating addiction, grief, and rediscovery. Today, Rod brings a unique coaching style grounded in presence, embodiment, and developmental growth to help leaders embrace heworth (their inner sense of worth), rather than chase validation through titles or achievements.

💡 Key Topics

🩰 Leadership & the Unpopular Path
Rod opens up about being the only male in a room of 60 ballerinas—and how that shaped his understanding of authenticity, leadership accountability, and showing up even when you feel like an outsider. His story is a reminder that some of the best leaders come from unpopular teams and unexpected beginnings.

💔 Addiction, Achievement & the Reckoning
Despite external success, Rod faced moments where his life lacked meaning. He speaks openly about mistakes in leadership, the cost of ignoring your inner purpose, and how confronting pain and loss was the catalyst for a new kind of impact.

🌿 Embodiment & Presence Over Performance
Rod and Kendra explore how embodiment and mindfulness shift leadership from performative to powerful. Whether you're leading cross-functional teams, making high-stakes decisions, or simply trying to be more present, these tools help you lead from the inside out.

🧠 Self-Doubt & Context
Imposter syndrome isn’t a flaw—it’s often contextual. Rod breaks down how environment, upbringing, and team dynamics influence self-perception and worth. Learning to pause, breathe, and dialog with your inner critic is a game-changer for ethical leadership.

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Connect with Rod Francis - Website | Interactualizer

Other References in this Episode - Hare Brain, Tortoise Mind: How Intelligence Increases When You Think Less | Holotropic Breathwork

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