Welcome to The Badass Leaders Podcast: Leadership Without the Corporate BS.
This is where real leadership meets real life. Hosted by Angela Gill Nelms, founder, speaker, and executive coach, this show dives deep into the mindset, emotional intelligence, and bold decision-making today’s leaders need.
Each episode delivers raw, actionable strategies on leadership development, team culture, conflict resolution, personal branding, resilience, and navigating high-stakes moments. You’ll hear unfiltered conversations with founders, executives, innovators, and badass humans redefining modern leadership.
🎙️ Perfect for:
• Women in leadership
• Entrepreneurs
• Executive coaching & personal growth
• Leadership skills, communication, & EI
• High-performance teams & conflict mastery
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You Don't Have a Funding Problem—You Have a Strategy Problem | Dr. Rebecca Sutherns | S2 E13
Episode 62
Wednesday, April 8, 2026 • Duration 01:11:14
What if your leadership team isn’t actually aligned, even though everyone thinks they are?
In this episode of the Badass Leaders Podcast, we sit down with Rebecca Sutherns, an imagination strategist who has spent nearly three decades working with non-profit leaders, boards, and mission-driven organizations navigating complexity, constraint, and constant change.
Rebecca challenges a deeply ingrained assumption in leadership: that strategy is about analyzing the past. Instead, she makes the case that many leadership breakdowns are actually a failure of imagination, where teams rely on shared language but hold completely different visions of success.
Through real-world examples, including a non-profit board divided over what “success” actually looked like, Rebecca breaks down how hidden misalignment quietly derails decision-making, slows progress, and limits impact.
This conversation explores how leaders can define what “winning” really means in mission-driven work, move from scarcity thinking to possibility thinking, and lead through uncertainty without burning out their teams.
What if the reason you’re not getting opportunities has nothing to do with your talent—and everything to do with your visibility?
In this episode of the Badass Leaders Podcast, Angela sits down with PR expert Barrie Cohen, founder of BC Public Relations, to unpack the uncomfortable truth many leaders avoid: being great at what you do is no longer enough if no one knows you exist.
Barrie shares how she built her firm after walking away from a transactional agency model, and why she believes modern leadership requires a shift toward relational credibility, not just results. Through real client stories and behind-the-scenes insight, she breaks down how experts go from overlooked to in-demand—and where most people get it wrong.
This conversation goes beyond traditional PR advice. You’ll learn how visibility actually drives business growth, why “good work speaks for itself” is a dangerous mindset, and what it takes to build long-term authority in a noisy, digital-first world.
What Sustainability Really Means—and Why Most Companies Get It Wrong | Charlie Cichetti | S2 E3
Episode 52
Wednesday, January 28, 2026 • Duration 01:08:39
In this episode of the Badass Leaders Podcast, Charlie Cichetti shares an honest look at leadership, sustainability, entrepreneurship, and legacy. From being laid off during the 2008 recession to co-founding multiple companies and working at the intersection of green buildings and technology, Charlie reflects on the moments that shaped his leadership philosophy.
The conversation explores what sustainability really means beyond certifications, how leaders can stay coachable through growth and exits, and why long-term impact matters more than short-term wins. Charlie also opens up about mentorship, managing stress as an entrepreneur, building companies with intention, and the mindset shift required to move from success to significance.
This episode is a grounded, thoughtful discussion for leaders, founders, and anyone navigating a career pivot while trying to build something that actually matters.
What Breaks Founders + How Great Leaders Recover | Phil Neil | S2 E2
Episode 51
Wednesday, January 21, 2026 • Duration 59:21
What happens when growth stops shouting and intuition finally gets a voice?
In this episode of the Badass Leaders Podcast, host Angela Gill Nelms sits down with serial entrepreneur, investor, and founder advisor Phil Neil for a raw, deeply human conversation about leadership, courage, and the inner work required to scale without breaking yourself or your company.
Phil shares his journey from growing up poor in Quebec to scaling Neobex Medical to a $70M revenue business and achieving an eight-figure exit — and what happened after the success, when identity, burnout, and fear quietly crept in. Together, they unpack why most founders don’t fail because of bad strategy, but because their internal capacity doesn’t evolve with the business.
This episode explores the real difference between leaders and managers, how to handle conflict without destroying culture, and why “letting the world burn” can sometimes be the most responsible leadership move. Phil introduces concepts like fear-based vs. courage-based decision-making, founder psychology, and why intuition — not hustle — is often the missing ingredient in high-stakes leadership.
What No One Tells You About Being a Leader | Angela Gill Nelms Q&A | S2 E1
Episode 50
Wednesday, January 14, 2026 • Duration 47:19
Episode 50 of the Badass Leaders Podcast marks a major milestone and the kickoff of Season Two. In this unscripted Q&A episode, host Angela Gill Nelms answers real questions submitted by listeners about leadership, burnout, trust, career pivots, and navigating uncertainty at work and in life.
This episode goes beyond theory and tackles leadership as it actually shows up. Messy. Personal. Uncomfortable at times. Angela shares hard-earned lessons from executive leadership, motherhood, career reinvention, and years of managing people through change.
If you are a first-time manager, an experienced leader feeling burned out, or someone trying to build a career with intention instead of fear, this episode offers clarity, perspective, and practical guidance you can apply immediately.
Season 1 Wrap-Up + Sneak Peek of Season 2: Be Brave, Be Badass | S1 E49
Episode 49
Monday, December 22, 2025 • Duration 06:38
About This Episode
Season 1 of the Badass Leaders Podcast comes to a close with a heartfelt wrap-up episode from host Angela Gill Nelms. After nearly 50 episodes exploring leadership, grit, and bold action, Angela reflects on the season, thanks listeners for their support, and shares what's next.
In this episode, you'll hear about:
The lessons learned from a year of interviewing extraordinary leaders.
Why saying "yes" to the right opportunities is crucial for personal and professional growth.
Angela's insights on breaking toxic sales stereotypes and fostering high-performing, purpose-driven teams.
The power of failure in entrepreneurship and how it shapes resilience, transformation, and long-term success.
A sneak peek at Season 2, featuring listener-sourced questions and stories of "badass humans" who inspire courage, authenticity, and impact.
Whether you're a leader, entrepreneur, or simply looking for inspiration to push boundaries, this episode is a must-listen before the new season kicks off.
Produced by: The AGN Group
Host: Angela Gill Nelms
Producer: Katie Hart
Tagline: Be Brave. Be Badass.
Websites: www.theagngroup.com and www.AngelaGillNelms.com
About The AGN Group:
At The AGN Group, we believe every individual, team, and company can unlock their inner badass, one brave step at a time. www.TheAGNGroup.com.
What Leaders Get Wrong About Creativity — And How to Fix It | Corean Canty | S1 E48
Episode 48
Wednesday, December 17, 2025 • Duration 01:15:59
This episode dives into the real, often unspoken emotional terrain of caregiving, leadership burnout, and reclaiming joy at work through the power of play. Angela sits down with Corean Canty, a former media and advertising COO turned executive coach, TEDx speaker coach, and co-founder of Shift to Play. Together, they unpack how anticipatory grief affects caregivers, why so many leaders lose their sense of self, and how play can rebuild creativity, resilience, and connection at work.
You'll hear Corean's personal journey through corporate burnout, caring for her mother with dementia, rediscovering her voice, and helping leaders stop performing the "should self" and step back into authenticity. The conversation also tackles questions many people quietly Google but rarely discuss openly:
The discussion also tackles questions such as:
What is anticipatory grief and how do you cope with it as a caregiver?
How do you know you're burning out before your body forces you to stop?
What does play actually do to your brain and why does it matter at work?
How can you become a better storyteller even if you don't think you're creative?
What's the difference between managing and leading in today's workplace?
How do you resolve conflict when everyone's stuck in their assumptions?
How do you find your true voice if you've spent years being who you "should" be?
This episode is part inspiration, part strategy, part wake-up call. Expect honesty, vulnerability, and real-world tools you can use immediately.
Raising Strong Girls in a Messy World: Mental Health, Boundaries & Body Image | Kate Rope | S1 E47
Episode 47
Wednesday, December 10, 2025 • Duration 01:19:08
In this episode of the Badass Leaders Podcast, journalist and author Kate Rope shares the untold story behind her career, her mission to help us all feel strong as humans, and the personal experiences that shaped her bestselling books Strong as a Mother and the forthcoming Strong as a Girl. Kate opens up about what she learned from investigating sexual harassment cases, supporting women and girls inside complex health systems, leading editorial teams, and navigating her own medically challenging pregnancy and postpartum anxiety.
The discussion also tackles questions listeners often search for:
How do you handle conflict resolution as a leader or caregiver?
How do you raise confident girls who trust their own voice?
How do you help kids manage anxiety, anger, or big emotions?
How do parents support a child struggling with body image or eating disorders?
How can caregivers model assertiveness, boundaries, and emotional intelligence?
How do we teach girls to say no, manage friendships, and avoid people-pleasing?
Kate brings real-world examples from her journalism career, her interviews with girls across the country, and her own lived experiences as a mother and mental-health advocate. This conversation is a strategic guide for parents, leaders, educators, and anyone committed to raising the next generation of strong, self-aware young women.
Georgia Tech’s Innovation Engine: AI, Biomedical Engineering, & What Universities Get Wrong | S1 E46
Episode 46
Wednesday, December 3, 2025 • Duration 39:40
Real Stories, Real Leadership: Georgia Tech Alumni
This episode features a deep, surprisingly personal conversation with two Georgia Tech powerhouses whose careers span biomedical engineering, venture investing, university leadership, and global innovation. They unpack what it looks like to build teams that solve real-world problems, how diversity fuels breakthrough ideas, and why Georgia Tech became a national model for AI adoption long before most institutions were ready.
Leaving the 80-Hour Grind for a Life You Actually Want | Ed Morgan | S1 E45
Episode 45
Wednesday, November 26, 2025 • Duration 01:45:34
Edward "Bean" Morgan joins the Badass Leaders Podcast for a candid conversation about leadership, burnout, and what it takes to walk away from a career that no longer aligns with your values. After decades in the restaurant and hospitality industry, working 80 to 90 hours a week with little recognition, Ed made a dramatic pivot into beekeeping. Today he manages more than 100 hives across Atlanta, teaches hands-on beekeeping classes, and mentors the next generation of beekeepers and entrepreneurs.
This episode explores how Ed built a thriving business from scratch, how he found his voice as a leader, and the lessons he now applies to business growth, community building, and resilient decision-making. His story is a blueprint for anyone ready to change direction, reclaim their time, and lead on their own terms.
The discussion also tackles questions such as:
What is the difference between a leader and a manager?
How do you recognize burnout before it derails your wellbeing?
How do you pivot careers when you have a mortgage, a family, and no safety net?
What can beekeeping teach us about leadership, communication, and teamwork?
How do you navigate toxic work environments and advocate for yourself?
What does conflict resolution look like when you're responsible for people, operations, and outcomes?
If you are interested in being a guest on the podcast, email brave@angelagillnelms.com.
Key Takeaways:
Anticipatory grief is real and often hits caregivers long before a loved one passes.
Burnout doesn't start in the workplace — it shows up in the body first. If you're overriding your own needs, your body will eventually force the pause.
Play is not childish — it's neuroscience. It improves creativity, problem-solving, communication, and bonding within teams.
Authenticity beats performance. Most people operate from their "should voice," not their real one.
Storytelling is a leadership tool, not a trend. Humans understand meaning through stories more than data.
Conflict stays stuck when everyone is clinging to assumptions. Curiosity is the exit ramp.
Leaders aren't defined by title. Leadership happens anywhere someone is willing to speak vision, ask bold questions, and take the first step.
You can't lead well if you're not living well. Life design and leadership design are inseparable.
The discussion also tackles questions people often search for, including:
How does Georgia Tech approach AI in admissions and engineering education?
What makes biomedical engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory so influential?
How do major universities build a culture of innovation instead of bureaucracy?
What does "return on investment" really mean in early-stage healthtech and translational science?
How can diversity and inclusion directly improve engineering and research outcomes
How do leaders manage autonomy, accountability, and innovation at large institutions?
Key Takeaways
Georgia Tech's early, unapologetic commitment to AI wasn't a gamble — it was a strategic pivot that's now shaping national standards.
True innovation requires proximity: engineers belong in ICUs, clinicians belong in labs, and teams must literally see each other's world.
Diversity isn't a slogan here. It shows up as better problem framing, richer solutions, and expanded opportunity.
Return on investment in academic innovation isn't just dollars — it's follow-on funding, regulatory milestones, and the long-term shaping of founders and researchers.
Autonomy is essential. Leaders who expect innovation must give people room to own decisions and be accountable for them.
The Georgia Tech–Emory ecosystem works because it prioritizes translation over theory; projects move, pivot, or end quickly.
Exposure changes trajectories. A single visit to campus, a commencement speech, or a STEM Saturday can alter how someone sees their future.
Themes
Innovation culture inside major research institutions
Diversity as a driver of engineering and scientific breakthroughs
AI adoption and ethics in higher education
Translational science and commercialization in healthcare
Leadership, autonomy, and accountability at scale
Resilience, reinvention, and nontraditional career paths
The power of community impact and early exposure to STEM
Produced by: The AGN Group, Host: Angela Gill Nelms, Producer: Katie Hart
Tagline: Be Brave. Be Badass.
Websites: www.theagngroup.com and www.AngelaGillNelms.com
About The AGN Group: At The AGN Group, we believe every individual, team, and company can unlock their inner badass, one brave step at a time. www.TheAGNGroup.com.
Social Media Channels: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/badassleaderspodcast/ Twitter: https://x.com/BALeadersPod TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@baleaderspod LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/badass-leaders-podcast2
Want to be a Podcast Guest? If you are interested in being a guest on the podcast, email brave@badassleaderspodcast.com
If you are interested in being a guest on the podcast, email brave@angelagillnelms.com.
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