The Leadership Vision Podcast
The Leadership Vision Podcast is about helping people better understand who they are as a leader. Hosted by Nathan Freeburg, Dr. Linda Schubring, and Brian Schubring—authors of Unfolded: Lessons in Transformation from an Origami Crane—this show is rooted in over 25 years of consulting experience helping teams stay mentally engaged and emotionally healthy. Our podcast provides insight to help you grow as a leader, build a positive team culture, and develop your organization to meet today’s evolving business landscape. Through client stories, research-based leadership models, and reflective conversations, we explore personal growth and leadership topics using a Strengths-based approach to people, teams, and culture. With over 350,000 downloads across 180+ countries, The Leadership Vision Podcast is your resource for discovering, practicing, and implementing leadership that transforms.
Episodes
In the quiet space between Christmas and New Year’s, we revisit a favorite 2025 conversation with Dr. Linda and Brian Schubring on alignment.
This episode explores why high-performing teams aren’t just working hard—but moving in the same direction—and how leaders can create clarity, trust, and momentum at every level.
Reflection for the year ahead:
Can your team clearly see how their daily work connects to the bigg...
In this solo reflection, Nathan Freeburg explores how some of the most important leadership work happens quietly, long before problems appear. Inspired by a parenting moment, Nathan reflects on stewardship, foresight, invisible leadership, and the power of small, preventative actions that shape long-term growth. This episode invites leaders to step back from urgency and trust the slow formation that creates healthy te...
As we close out 2025, this special highlight episode of The Leadership Vision Podcast brings together powerful moments from our year-long conversation series around Unfolded: Lessons in Transformation from an Origami Crane by Dr. Linda Schubring and Brian Schubring.
Drawing from episodes focused on both individual and team transformation, this compilation explores the five core themes of the book—Dream, Play, Try, Fly,...
Have you ever been part of a weekend that you know you’ll carry with you forever?
In this conversation, Nathan is joined by Dr. Linda and Brian Schubring to reflect on their time in Brussels celebrating the 20th anniversary of Serve the City International—a global movement built on a simple idea: many people doing small things together can make a big difference.
Leaders from 35 countries across 6 continents gathered to ...
What does your leadership voice communicate—before you even get to the content of your message? In this episode, Nathan, Brian, and Linda talk with Dr. Laura Sicola, cognitive linguist, executive communication coach, and author of Speaking to Influence: Mastering Your Leadership Voice.
Laura has spent over two decades helping leaders transform technical brilliance into real leadership impact. Together, we explore three...
In this special Thanksgiving episode of The Leadership Vision Podcast, Nathan Freeburg reflects on the leadership posture of holding long-term goals and present-moment gratitude simultaneously. Drawing from themes within Dr. Linda and Brian Schubring’s book Unfolded: Lessons in Transformation from an Origami Crane, Nathan explores why transformation grows slowly — through small, daily practices that shape who we becom...
In this episode, we explore Chapter 5 (“Home”) from Unfolded: Lessons in Transformation from an Origami Crane. Brian and Linda discuss how leaders can create a sense of “home” in the workplace—a space of belonging, safety, and shared growth.
They unpack what happens when a transformed individual re-enters their team, why that can create tension, and how leaders can respond with empathy and openness. Topics include:
- ...
What happens when you’ve been changed by a powerful experience—growth, success, or transformation—and then return to the same environment that hasn’t changed with you? In this episode of The Leadership Vision Podcast, Nathan Freeburg talks with Dr. Linda and Brian Schubring to unpack Chapter 5 of Unfolded: Lessons in Transformation from an Origami Crane. Together, they explore what it means for leaders to come “home” ...
Pioneering technology executive and Leadership Vision advisor Deb Dixson joins Nathan to unpack how leaders move teams from dependence on one person to interdependence—through mission clarity (“we sell lettuce”), Strengths-based roles, and a culture where fast, safe learning is encouraged. Drawing on her 30+ years as a CISO, CIO, and executive coach, Deb shares stories of building resilient teams, empowering others to...
In this episode, we explore Chapter 4 of Unfolded: Lessons in Transformation from an Origami Crane. Dr. Linda and Brian Schubring unpack what it means for teams and organizations to “fly” — to embrace risk, trust, and transformation as they step into new levels of growth.
Topics Covered:
- Recognizing when your team is in the fly stage
- Why trust is the foundation of all growth
- How leaders create safety and courage for f...
We explore how leaders move from try to fly: building self-belief through repeated practice, welcoming help (even when it’s uncomfortable), and trusting people, process, and place. We discuss the “pre-flight checklist,” the role of mentors at altitude (the “Eagle”), and how to hold your core identity—your map—through transformation.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Why Fly is the climax of the Unfolded arc (Dream → Pl...
Nathan and Brian revisit a 2019 conversation after Nathan’s recent family trip to Paris and his first in-person encounter with Notre Dame’s rose window—the inspiration for the Leadership Vision logo. They explore why place matters for leaders and teams, considering it as an anchor, symbol, intersection, and invitation. From the transept metaphor of waiting to the role of shared team retreats and simple artifacts, this...
In this episode of The Leadership Vision Podcast, Nathan Freeburg sits down with Dr. Linda and Brian Schubring to discuss chapter three of their book Unfolded: Lessons in Transformation from an Origami Crane. Together, they explore what it means for organizations to “try”—to experiment, to refold, and to persist through uncertainty.
Topics include:
- Why “trying” is a strength, not a weakness.
- The characteristics of or...
In this episode of The Leadership Vision Podcast, Nathan Freeburg talks with Dr. Linda and Brian Schubring about Chapter 3 of Unfolded: Lessons in Transformation from an Origami Crane, Try.
They explore why trying is more than practice, how to handle the “messy middle” where doubt and fear creep in, and why setbacks are often signs of growth. You’ll also hear how community and self-compassion can give leaders the coura...
In this episode of the Leadership Vision Podcast, we talk with executive coach and author Susan Inouye about her unique approach to leadership rooted in the Zulu greeting Sawubona—"I see you." We explore how Susan’s gift-centered model helps leaders build cultures of belonging, recognize the hidden strengths in others, and shift from command-and-control to connection and care.
📘 Mentioned in the episode:
In this episode of The Leadership Vision Podcast, hosts Nathan Freeburg, Dr. Linda Schubring, and Brian Schubring continue their conversation on themes from their book Unfolded: Lessons in Transformation from an Origami Crane.
The focus is on folds—the permanent creases created by early experiences, habits, and lessons that shape who we are. Brian shares his own anchor folds of work ethic, spirituality, and education, ...
In this episode of the Leadership Vision Podcast, host Nathan Freeburg is joined by Dr. Linda and Brian Schubring, co-authors of Unfolded: Lessons in Transformation from an Origami Crane. Together, they unpack the metaphor of maps—how our experiences, values, and memories create inner landscapes that shape who we are and how we lead.
Key themes explored:
- Why our lives can be seen as maps that reveal both familiar pa...
In this short Labor Day reflection, host Nathan Freeburg shares an unexpected leadership insight inspired by the Benedictine monks’ philosophy of work. Drawing on the ancient motto Ora et Labora—“Pray and Work”—this episode explores how viewing our work as sacred, balanced, and community-driven can transform the way we lead and build team culture.
Whether you're running a team, leading a company, or simply reevalu...
In this episode, we explore the connection between Strengths and communication. Learn how identity shapes the way you speak and listen, the four shaping influences that impact your style, and practical tools to adapt your communication for better outcomes.
Resources & Links:
In this episode, host Nathan Freeburg is joined by Brian and Dr. Linda Schubring to unpack the impact of uncertainty on leaders, teams, and organizations. Drawing from client examples and real-world challenges, they explore the hidden consequences of uncertainty—like fractured trust and chronic stress—and share practical ways to build resilience, foster clarity, and create meaningful connections, even when everything ...
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