Meta-Cast

In this episode, Josh and Bob dive into the uncomfortable but powerful role of intuition in leadership. Data-driven decision-making has become the default, but what happens when the data runs out—or worse, when it misleads you? Both share personal stories of times they ignored their gut and paid the price, and times when trusting that inner signal made all the difference.

This isn’t about rejecting data. It’s about recognizing intui...

In this episode, Josh and Bob wrap up their exploration of Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by tackling the final three habits: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood, Synergize, and Sharpen the Saw.

They unpack what these really mean for leaders today. From the trap of talking too much and forgetting to listen, to why “playing Legos” with people never works, to the absolute necessity of investing in your...

In Part 2 of their series on Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Josh Anderson and Bob Galen dive into “Put First Things First” and “Think Win-Win.” Learn how modern leaders can prioritize with courage, create clarity, and build true win-win relationships.

Stay Connected and Informed with Our Newsletters

Josh Anderson's "Leadership Lighthouse"

Dive deeper into the world of Agile leadership and management wit...

We’re kicking off a brand-new series revisiting Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People — through the lens of modern leadership. In this episode, Josh and Bob unpack the first two habits:

• Be Proactive – Don’t wait for permission. Great leaders anticipate, act, and build ahead of the curve. From hiring talent before you need it to proactively managing your own growth, proactivity isn’t about flailing — it’s about inte...

Josh and Bob get real about what happens when leadership lands in your lap—whether you asked for it or not. From “org charts on chairs” to the harsh reality of being the single ringable neck, they break down the mistakes, lessons, and turning points that define the journey from individual contributor to leader.

They share personal stories of micromanaging gone wrong, learning the hard way about delegation, discovering that the true ...

In this episode, Josh and Bob challenge the growing obsession with artificial intelligence and mechanical leadership “frameworks” by reminding us what matters: leading humans like a human. They unpack what authentic high-performance leadership looks like and how showing genuine care for people is still the most powerful management tool you have. Instead of passing leadership responsibilities on to checklists or algorithms, the host...

What does great leadership look like?

In this episode, Josh and Bob unpack their personal, hard-earned list of what truly defines a great leader — beyond the metrics, beyond the titles, and way beyond the fluff. From building resilient, high-performing teams to owning mistakes, speaking truth to power, and knowing when to be patient (and when to push), this is a no-BS breakdown of how to measure leadership that matters.

This isn’t th...

In this powerful episode, Josh and Bob go all-in on the responsibility of leadership—especially when it’s uncomfortable. Prompted by listener feedback questioning whether it’s “worth it” to speak truth to power, they deliver a no-nonsense masterclass on the cost and courage of real leadership.

This conversation is blunt, passionate, and grounded in decades of lived experience. From promotions earned by speaking uncomfortable truths ...

In this episode, Josh and Bob dive deep into Colin Powell’s 18 Principles of Leadership, but with a Meta-Cast twist. They each bring their top five principles to the table and unpack them—not as motivational posters, but as real-world lessons earned in the trenches. The discussion spans hard truths about pissing people off as a leader, the danger of falling in love with the "expert" class, why perpetual optimism actually moves team...

Silence is compliance. That’s the raw truth at the heart of this episode.

Josh Anderson and Bob Galen dive into what it really means to speak truth to power — and why so many teams and leaders fail to do it. They unpack the fear, politeness, and avoidance that keep people quiet, and share hard-won advice on building a culture where truth-telling is not just encouraged but expected.

Through real stories, role-playing, and honest debat...

Curiosity isn’t optional. It’s a leadership superpower — and most leaders don’t use it nearly enough.

In this episode, Josh Anderson and Bob Galen unpack what real curiosity looks like in leadership. They explore how fake curiosity shows up (leading questions, hidden agendas, performative listening), and how authentic curiosity creates space for collaboration, innovation, and trust.

You’ll learn practical ways to assess your own curi...

In this future-facing episode, Josh Anderson and Bob Galen make the case that great product leadership is more important than ever—especially in a world of AI-driven development, vibe coding, and accelerating speed. They argue that no matter how fast you can build, if you’re not building the right things for the right reasons, you’re setting yourself up for failure.

Josh shares lessons from his own real-time experience building a pr...

Storytelling isn’t a soft skill — it’s a leadership superpower.

In this jam-packed and practical episode, Josh Anderson and Bob Galen unpack what great storytelling actually looks like in leadership. They explore the difference between rambling and landing, and share how leaders can create clarity, shape culture, and inspire action with stories that actually stick.

You’ll learn how to mine your own experiences for powerful “nuggets,”...

Transparency sounds simple — until you actually have to live it.

In this raw and deeply honest episode, Josh Anderson and Bob Galen explore what real transparency in leadership looks like, why so many leaders avoid it, and how fear, ego, and storytelling get in the way. From sharing hard truths to navigating organizational risk, they unpack why transparency isn't just about honesty — it's about trust, respect, and the courage to sto...

In this fast-paced and practical episode, Josh Anderson and Bob Galen run through 10 essential “hats” every leader must learn to wear — even the ones that feel uncomfortable or counterintuitive. From truth-teller to listener, follower to guide, each role represents a different kind of leadership presence and responsibility.

They challenge the myth that leaders should always have the answers, instead offering a more grounded view of ...

In this passionate and energizing episode, Josh Anderson and Bob Galen ask a bold question:

Why did we stop celebrating Agile?

Agile won. It changed how we build software forever. But today, the loudest voices in the community are complaining, nitpicking, or chasing the next hype cycle. Josh and Bob push back on the negativity and call for a return to appreciation, optimism, and respect for the movement that changed their careers — a...

In this highly relevant and no-holds-barred episode, Josh Anderson and Bob Galen dive into the AI boom — not from a hype lens, but from the trenches of leadership, technology, and craft. They explore how AI is shaping the tech industry, what’s getting better, what’s getting worse, and why so many people are using it wrong.

Bob shares his shift from skeptic to advocate, revealing how AI has helped him write, coach, and even navigate ...

In this episode, Josh Anderson and Bob Galen tackle the infamous Peter Principle — the idea that people are promoted until they hit their level of incompetence. But they go deeper than the theory, asking why it happens so often, how to recognize it in your organization, and what great leaders do differently.

Josh offers a spicy take: the Peter Principle is inevitable — and even necessary for growth. Bob pushes back hard, arguing tha...

In this sharp and thoughtful episode, Josh Anderson and Bob Galen debate the future of middle management. While movements like Corporate Rebels are calling to eliminate the layer entirely, Bob and Josh argue for something more nuanced: a transformation, not an execution. They explore what great middle managers actually look like, the leadership gaps that plague many orgs, and why flat structures aren't a silver bullet.

You'll walk a...