The Unconventional Leadership Podcast isn’t just another leadership show — it’s a call to rethink everything.
We bring you raw conversations, real wisdom, and stories that go beyond surface success. Each episode features world-class leaders who share their highs, lows, and everything in between — so you can lead with greater courage, clarity, and purpose.
If you’re ready to ditch the status quo, unleash your team's full potential, and build a legacy that matters, you’re in the right place.
It’s time to lead differently. It’s time to lead unconventionally.
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Données mises à jour le 04/07/2026
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250 Episodes: What Leading Through the Mess Actually Teaches You
Saison 4 · Épisode 250
jeudi 11 juin 2026 • Durée 01:07:05
Season 4, Episode 250
250 Episodes: What Leading Through the Mess Actually Teaches You (feat. Mike Sipple Jr.)
Connect & ask your leadership question here: https://www.talentmagnet.com/contactus
After 8 years and 250 episodes, Mike Sipple Jr. sits down alone to tell the truth: not about what went right, but about what it actually cost to keep going. This milestone isn't a highlight reel. It's an honest accounting of loss, painful pauses, and what the unconventional leadership journey has demanded of him personally, relationally, and professionally.
The leaders who build something lasting, something generational, something that outlives the title on the card, are the ones who stopped trying to carry it alone. Episode 250 is Mike's reflection on what it took to get here, what it cost, and why he's more convicted than ever about what's coming next.
In this episode:
- Why Mike paused the podcast twice, once from business pressure and team burnout, once from the loss of his sister, and what brought him back both times
- The specific loneliness of leadership: not "I don't have friends" lonely, but the particular isolation of holding a vision no one else can fully see
- What 250 conversations taught him about leaders who build something lasting and the ones who let others carry it with them
- The personal health and burnout reckoning he had mid-journey, and why he couldn't authentically podcast about leadership while running on empty
- How going from audio to video took the show from tens of thousands to millions of impressions, and what that visibility has meant for the movement
- Why there is no version of you at work that's disconnected from who you are at home and what it really means to lead holistically
- What's ahead in Season 4: sponsors, a more independent brand, and a deepened commitment to walking alongside leaders for the long term
Timecodes:
00:02:18 -- Mike introduces episode 250 and why he chose to speak from the heart with no script
00:10:44 -- The conviction he had starting the podcast and what 8 years proved right
00:25:32 -- What building the podcast actually required: the time, relational, and personal cost he didn't anticipate
00:29:07 -- The loss of his sister and the break that followed and how Josh Lewis and Brian Erickson helped him ramp back
00:42:15 -- On asking for help: why leaders carrying everything alone is the wrong answer
00:50:46 -- The loneliness of leadership -- holding the culture and vision when you can't fully unload on anyone around you
01:00:13 -- What 250 episodes have taught him about leaders who build something that outlives the title on the card
Partners and Sponsors Mentioned:
- The Living Room Cincinnati https://hellolivingroom.com/unconventional
- Xavier University Executive MBA Program - https://talentmagnet.com/emba/
- The Colorado Symphony - https://youtu.be/2MCLLIty6kQ?si=A9PYUzDaAKIDmLS3
The Father, The Founder, and 50 Years of Unconventional Leadership
Saison 3 · Épisode 249
jeudi 28 mai 2026 • Durée 02:00:52
Season 3, Episode 249
The Father, The Founder, and 50 Years of Unconventional Leadership (feat. Mike Sipple, Sr. & Mike Sipple Jr.)
Connect & ask your leadership question here:
https://www.talentmagnet.com/contactus
Mike Sipple, Sr. walked into a Cincinnati recruiting firm in 1975 with no suit and no plan -- and spent the next 50 years building one of the region's most trusted executive search firms into a multigenerational legacy. This episode answers the question every leader avoids: what does it actually mean to build something that outlasts you?
In this episode:
- Mike Sr. answers the call to lead Centennial after founder Jim Morris's unexpected death in 1980 -- chosen not for experience, but for character and trust
- Why leadership, in his words, has always started with two things: character and trust -- and why that hasn't changed in five decades
- The "4C Recruiting Process®" framework (Character, Culture, Chemistry, Competence) that was born out of a post-9/11 strategic planning session and still defines how Centennial's client's hire today
- How Mike Sr. spent years advising other business owners on succession planning before realizing he had never thought about his own
- The role faith played at every inflection point -- from Jim Morris's death to the support of founding Talent Magnet Institute® to transitioning the keys to his son
- What it looked like to bring Mike Jr. from computer-building intern to company CEO -- and the advisor who first asked, "Have you ever considered Michael as a recruiter?"
- Why legacy isn't a building, a balance sheet, or a brand -- it's the leaders who say yes before the proof shows up
Stop Trying to Retain Your People
Saison 3 · Épisode 248
jeudi 14 mai 2026 • Durée 01:06:21
Season 3, Episode 248
Stop Trying to Retain Your People (feat. Travis Dommert & Mike Sipple Jr.)
Connect & ask your leadership question here: https://www.talentmagnet.com/contactus
Travis Dommert, Senior Client Executive, People & Performance, of One Digital has spent years sitting across from CEOs navigating the most personal transition in business: stepping into the top job. What he sees isn't a strategy problem -- it's an identity problem. The leaders who get it right stop trying to be who the role was and start figuring out who the role needs to become.
Mike and Travis unpack the CEO's one non-delegatable job -- making meaning -- and trace how trust, clarity, accountability, and the way you handle someone's first and last day all compound into the culture that either activates your people or quietly burns them out.
In this episode:
- Why stepping into the CEO role is an identity crisis before it's a strategy question -- and what family business succession makes even more complicated
- The one thing no CEO can delegate: making meaning out of every experience your people have at work
- How the "marble jar" model explains why trust is built in moments, not gestures -- and why some people need a thousand of them
- Why accountability without trust creates fear -- and what "positive accountability" looks like when it's actually working
- Survey response rates as the loudest signal of organizational health: below 50% means half your people don't think their voice matters
- Why Day One and Last Day are the two highest-leverage moments in any employee's tenure -- and what most leaders get completely wrong on the last one
- The infinite talent strategy: grow people so well some of them leave -- and why most of them won't, and the ones who do build your alumni network
How Great Leaders Challenge the Status Quo
Saison 3 · Épisode 247
jeudi 30 avril 2026 • Durée 01:05:49
Connect & ask your leadership question here: https://www.talentmagnet.com/contactus
Take the FREE Self-Care Inventory Quiz: https://www.talentmagnet.com/quiz
Season 3, Episode 247
How Great Leaders Challenge the Status Quo (feat. Mark Fisher & Mike Sipple Jr.)
What does it really take to create meaningful change inside an organization?
In this episode of the Unconventional Leadership Podcast, Mike Sipple Jr. sits down with Mark Fisher, Chief Operating Officer of the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, for a conversation about vision, courage, operational excellence, and what it means to lead with a willingness to challenge the status quo.
Mark shares why inspiring teams takes more than a strategic plan, how leaders can create momentum through quick wins, and why some of the best ideas often come from the front lines. Together, Mike and Mark unpack what it looks like to break rules in the right way, build a culture that allows calculated failure, and stay relentless in pursuit of progress that benefits both the organization and the broader community.
They also explore succession planning, sustainability, innovation, team development, and the kind of leadership energy required to move people from ideas into action.
If you are a CEO, founder, HR leader, executive, or people manager trying to lead change, improve culture, and build a team that is willing to think differently, this conversation will challenge and encourage you.
🔗 Links and Resources:
• Learn more about the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden: https://cincinnatizoo.org
Why Do Leaders Need to Think More Like Conductors?
Saison 3 · Épisode 251
jeudi 9 avril 2026 • Durée 01:06:20
Connect & ask your leadership question here: https://www.talentmagnet.com/contactus
Take the FREE Self-Care Inventory Quiz: https://www.talentmagnet.com/quiz
Season 3, Episode 246
Why Do Leaders Need to Think More Like Conductors? (feat. Daniel Wachter & Mike Sipple Jr.)
What can business leaders learn from a conductor leading an orchestra?
In this episode of the Unconventional Leadership Podcast, Mike Sipple Jr. sits down with Daniel Wachter, President & CEO of the Colorado Symphony, to explore one of the most compelling leadership analogies you will hear: why leading a team is often less about doing the work yourself and more about creating alignment, context, trust, and performance across talented people.
Daniel shares how watching a conductor changed the way he thought about leadership, communication, and team performance. Together, Mike and Daniel unpack what leaders often get wrong about vision, why teams need more than a strategy on paper, how freedom of action is built through alignment, and what executives can learn from musicians who must perform at the highest level together.
They also explore leadership development, workplace culture, employee engagement, accountability, and how the arts can influence business, healthcare, and community impact in unexpected ways.
If you are a CEO, founder, HR leader, executive, or people manager trying to build a healthier culture and stronger team performance, this conversation will challenge and encourage you to lead with more clarity, intention, and humanity.
🔗 Links and Resources:
Succession Planning for Business Owners: How to Prepare Years Before a Transition
Saison 3 · Épisode 245
jeudi 2 avril 2026 • Durée 01:05:31
Connect & ask your leadership question here: https://www.talentmagnet.com/contactus
Take the FREE Self-Care Inventory Quiz: https://www.talentmagnet.com/quiz
Season 3, Episode 245
Succession Planning for Business Owners: How to Prepare Years Before a Transition (feat. Brent Rippe & Mike Sipple Jr.)
What happens when a founder, owner, or key executive is no longer in the seat?
In this episode of the Unconventional Leadership Podcast, Mike Sipple Jr. sits down with investment banker, business executive, business owner, and long-time strategist Brent Rippe to unpack a leadership challenge too many organizations delay for too long: succession planning.
This conversation goes far beyond selling a company. Mike and Brent explore how leaders can think about long-term business strategy, stakeholder alignment, leadership bench strength, and value optimization years before a transition ever happens. They discuss why many founders keep succession too close to the vest, how uncertainty creates risk for employees and buyers, and why pre-planning can dramatically change the future of a business.
You’ll hear practical insight on family business transitions, leadership development, key-person risk, organizational structure, and how to prepare the next generation of leaders with more intention. If you’re a CEO, founder, family business owner, or executive thinking about long-term continuity, this episode will challenge you to stop pushing succession planning to “someday” and start building a stronger future now.
🔗 Links and Resources:
* Connect & ask your leadership question here: https://www.talentmagnet.com/contactus
Why Is Leadership So Hard Right Now? How Great Leaders Build Healthy Teams
Saison 3 · Épisode 244
jeudi 19 mars 2026 • Durée 01:00:51
Connect & ask your leadership question here: https://www.talentmagnet.com/contactus
Take the FREE Self-Care Inventory Quiz: https://www.talentmagnet.com/quiz
Season 3, Episode 244
Why Is Leadership So Hard Right Now? How Great Leaders Build Healthy Teams (feat. Nancy Spivey, David Noe, & Mike Sipple Jr.)
Leadership is more complex than ever. Between burnout, employee experience, AI, mental health, and the pressure to build a strong culture, leaders are navigating challenges that do not come with simple answers. In this episode, Nancy Spivey, David Noe, and Mike Sipple Jr. unpack what business leaders, HR professionals, and people managers are seeing right now when it comes to leadership, team culture, talent, and the future of work.
They explore why great leadership still comes back to people, how empathy and trust shape healthier teams, and what organizations need to think about as technology continues to change the workplace. If you care about leadership development, employee retention, workplace culture, human resources, and building teams that can thrive without burning out, this conversation is full of practical insight.
🔗 Links and Resources:
• Connect with Nancy Spivey: https://www.linkedin.com/in/spiveynancy
• Connect with David Noe: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidrnoe
Are You Keeping the Wrong “Top Performer” on Your Team?
Saison 3 · Épisode 243
jeudi 5 mars 2026 • Durée 01:12:00
Connect & ask your leadership question here: https://www.talentmagnet.com/contactus
Take the FREE Self-Care Inventory Quiz: https://www.talentmagnet.com/quiz
Season 3, Episode 243
Are You Keeping the Wrong “Top Performer” on Your Team? (feat. John Spence, Michael Ragsdale & Mike Sipple Jr.)
High performance doesn’t excuse misalignment. In this episode, Mike sits down with John Spence and Michael Ragsdale for an honest conversation about what great leaders do when a “star performer” creates friction, violates values, or pulls the culture off course.
You’ll hear why values alignment is the real unlock for scaling a healthy business, how leadership decisions carry “more at stake” than most founders realize (families, livelihoods, and trust), and why the second time building a business often looks completely different than the first.
🔗 Links and Resources:
• Connect with John Spence: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-spence-361a4750
• Connect with Michael Ragsdale: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-ragsdale-
⸻
TIMECODES:
00:00 – Only work with people you like (values + fit)
06:05 – Star performers vs. shared values (culture decisions)
08:56 – “More at stake” (employees’ families + leadership gravity)
13:45 – Origin stories: innovation, risk, and building from scratch
Why This Leader’s Company Pays 100% of Employee Healthcare Costs?
Saison 3 · Épisode 242
jeudi 19 février 2026 • Durée 01:05:11
Connect & ask your leadership question here: https://www.talentmagnet.com/contactus
Season 3, Episode 242
Why This CEO Pays 100% of Employee Healthcare Costs? (feat. Bob Heil & Mike Sipple Jr.)
In a business arena where most companies struggle with retention, what if the secret to loyalty is radical generosity? In this episode I sit down with Bob Heil, Executive Director of Strategic Relationships and Community Engagement at KLH Engineers, Executive Director of LaunchNKY Center for Civic Leadership, and past Board Chair of BENKY, NKY Chamber, OneNKY Alliance, amongst others. Bob reveals why his company, KLH Engineers, pays 100% of medical insurance for employees and their families—a benefit less than 1% of companies offer.
Bob and Mike discuss the power of "Unconventional Leadership" by challenging existing paradigms in business, education, and government. From the "hand on the shoulder" mentorship moments that define careers to the "Creative Tension" required to drive innovation, this episode is a masterclass in servant leadership and community building. Learn all about Launch NKY and why Bob is so deeply passionate about civic leadership and encouraging you to ask someone to participate in leveling up our community.
In this episode, we cover:
Radical Employee Benefits: Why KLH pays 100% of medical for employees and families.
Creative Tension: Using the rubber band analogy to bridge the gap between reality and vision.
Civic Leadership: The formation of the OneNKY Alliance and breaking down regional silos.
The "Splendid Torch:" Why Bob Heil refuses to retire and his philosophy on legacy.
LaunchNKY: A new program designed to place leaders on boards and commissions.
🔗 Links and Resources:
Why Great Leaders Start With Sleep, Not Strategy
Saison 3 · Épisode 241
jeudi 5 février 2026 • Durée 01:10:09
Connect & ask your leadership question here: https://www.talentmagnet.com/contactus
Signup for Relentless 2800: https://www.relentless2800.com
Season 3, Episode 241
Why Great Leaders Start With Sleep, Not Strategy (feat. Jessica Morris AND JONBOB Willis)
What if the biggest limiter of your leadership effectiveness isn’t skill, strategy, or experience—but exhaustion?
In this powerful and deeply human conversation, Mike Sipple Jr. is joined by Jessica Morris, executive health coach and wellness expert, and JONBOB Willis, creative entrepreneur and community builder, to unpack what holistic leadership really looks like in practice. From sleep deprivation and burnout to margin, community, and purpose-driven creativity, this episode reframes leadership through the lens of well-being.
The group explores why sleep is the cornerstone of peak performance, how leaders unknowingly model burnout for their teams, and why psychological safety begins with asking better questions—like “What’s feeling heavy right now?” instead of “How are you?”
They also dive into JONBOB’s community-driven initiatives like The Simple Portrait Project and Relentless 2800, illustrating how margin, play, and connection fuel creativity and resilience—both personally and organizationally.
This episode is a masterclass in human-centered, unconventional leadership for executives, founders, and anyone responsible for leading people.
In this episode, we cover:
- Sleep as a Leadership Skill: Why sleep is the foundation of emotional regulation, decision-making, and resilience
Timecodes:
00:01 -- Mike Sr. walks into Centennial in 1975 and why he stayed
00:27 -- Jim Morris passes away; Mike Sr. is named president at 30 with no warning
00:30 -- Defining leadership before he had the title: character and trust
00:55 -- The compounding power of 50 years of client relationships
01:04 -- Watching Mike Jr. grow up in the business and the question that changed everything
01:10 -- The Goering Center succession process and why Mike Sr. insisted Mike Jr. choose freely
01:30 -- What "unconventional leadership" actually means to someone who has practiced it for five decades
01:37 -- What legacy means personally to Mike Sipple, Sr.
The Living Room Cincinnati (episode sponsor): https://hellolivingroom.com/unconventional
• Learn more about the Colorado Symphony: https://coloradosymphony.org
• Connect with Daniel Wachter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielwachter
Previous Episodes:
• 6/14/2018 – Daniel Wachter and Mike Sipple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unconventional-leadership-podcast/id1378659047?i=1000413752855
• 7/16/2020 – Daniel Wachter and Mike Sipple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unconventional-leadership-podcast/id1378659047?i=1000485158234
• 2/25/2021 – Daniel Wachter and Mike Sipple – we started the series here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unconventional-leadership-podcast/id1378659047?i=1000510578657
• 3/25/2021 – Daniel Wachter w/ Francois Lopez-Ferrer: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unconventional-leadership-podcast/id1378659047?i=1000514312297
• 10/14/2021 – Daniel Wachter w/ Julia Adolphe: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unconventional-leadership-podcast/id1378659047?i=1000538531942
TIMECODES:
00:00 - Why leaders need to think like conductors
01:13 - Daniel Wachter’s return and journey to the Colorado Symphony
08:23 - What a conductor teaches leaders about vision and alignment
12:06 - Inside the immersive leadership workshop with the orchestra
21:43 - Why vision on paper is not enough
25:36 - How music, leadership, and healthcare connect
30:01 - Freedom of action, trust, and alignment
34:07 - Right people, right seats, right performance
36:11 - Shared accountability and why engagement cannot hide
50:47 - Creating a customer experience, not just a performance
01:00:54 - What unconventional leadership means to Daniel Wachter
01:02:56 - Why leaders are responsible for creating space and joy
Payroll Partners - https://payrollpartners.net/about-us/ Sponsor of the SpeakEasy HR Podcast, an Investors Circle of the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce and a Presenting Sponsor of the DisruptHR NKY
Timecodes:
00:00 How AI is changing leadership and work
00:33 Unconventional Leadership Podcast intro
01:02 Nancy Spivey and David Noe join the show
01:25 Disrupt HR Cincinnati and leadership trends
05:51 Top people and talent challenges in business today
07:53 Employee experience, burnout, and HR leadership
10:05 AI in the workplace and human connection
17:20 How AI helps podcasting, marketing, and productivity
19:41 Leadership accountability, trust, and delegation
21:47 Why leadership is so complex right now
25:36 Empathy, mental health, and people leadership
27:17 Hiring, retention, and workplace safety concerns
31:26 Payroll systems, HR tech, and employee experience
34:21 Tech stack overload and business efficiency
39:19 Payroll compliance, trust, and human support
41:34 Customer service, automation, and human connection
43:32 Unreasonable hospitality in business
48:07 Disrupt HR topics that make an impact
50:38 Gratitude, employee benefits, and behavior change
56:10 Talent strategy symposium and HR collaboration
58:04 What unconventional leadership really means
59:50 Final thoughts and Disrupt HR Northern Kentucky
