The Change Agent Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis
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The Change Agent Podcast
The Change Agent Podcast
Frequency: 1 episode/109d. Total Eps: 52
THE CHANGE AGENT PODCAST
Most leadership content is built around the assumption that you have time to reflect, space to course-correct, and a margin for error. This show is for when you don't.
The Change Agent is a podcast about leadership in consequential environments where the decisions are hard, the resources are never enough, and getting it wrong means something. Guests aren't theorists. They're operators: people who have actually led through the mess; through failed projects, fractured teams, missed windows, and moments where the only path forward ran straight through the thing they were most afraid to do.
Every episode is a real conversation about the real work. Not what the textbook says. Not what the keynote sounds like. What it actually took to hold the line, move the team, and deliver on something that mattered.
You'll hear from people who've commanded units under fire and people who've rebuilt cultures from near collapse. From project managers who turned around initiatives written off as lost causes, to executives who've had to make calls that couldn't be undone. What they share isn't a framework. It's the thing they learned after the framework stopped working.
The conversation is practical and intentionlly though provoking. We talk about how leaders make decisions when information is incomplete, how you maintain credibility when things are falling apart around you, and what good communication looks like in an environment where trust is thin and stakes are high. How you hold a team together when the mission feels impossible and what you take away from it when you get to the other side.
If you've ever led something that genuinely mattered and felt the weight of that, this podcast will feel like a conversation you didn't know you needed. If you're still building toward that kind of leadership this is the map that doesn't get handed out in class.
The Change Agent Podcast is hosted by Eric Adams, an experienced leader with more than 26 years in combat, commercial, and senior level leadership experience. His work has been centered in high-pressure, mission-critical environments spanning complex operations, geospatial intelligence programs, and organizational change. He holds the PMP and SAFe Agile certifications.
New episodes drop regularly. Subscribe wherever you listen, and if an episode hits, share it with someone in the thick of it.
The work continues so stay tuned and make sure you subscribe!
Our Website: https://www.thechangeagent.studio
Our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/thechangeagentpodcast/posts
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheChangeAgentPodcast
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-change-agent-podcast/id1794550342
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4LoAakYrrg60ld766wKqto?si=OjaQfNF9RbiRH1GCzxOtsw
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See allScore global : 59%
Publication history
Monthly episode publishing history over the past years.
Learning From Failure
Season 1 · Episode 6
lundi 10 février 2025 • Duration 11:22
In this episode of The Change Agent, Eric tackles the powerful concept of learning from failure and turning setbacks into stepping stones for success. He explores common reasons why projects fail, such as poor communication, scope creep, and weak leadership, and offers practical strategies for leaders to turn these failures into valuable lessons. Through actionable steps like conducting a blame-free post-mortem, extracting lessons learned, and applying those insights to future projects, Eric emphasizes the importance of adapting and growing through challenges. Drawing from a personal experience, he highlights the significance of preparation, stakeholder alignment, and documenting lessons to improve project outcomes. Tune in for practical advice on how to embrace failure as a tool for continuous improvement and stronger leadership.
🎧 A conversation about understanding the power of failing. Success is built on learning and learning needs you to experience failure!
Support Our Show On Apple Podcasts! - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-change-agent/id1799999172
Support Us On YouTube by Subscribing! - https://www.youtube.com/@TheChangeAgentPodcast
Support Our Show On Spotify! - https://open.spotify.com/show/7JsZOGwhH213aRoYRYnb1A?si=e96df1021c4c4b3b
Support Our Show via Donations below :) - https://www.buzzsprout.com/2449509/support
Send us a message and let’s connect! Email: engage@thechangeagent.com
Thanks for listening and let's go out there and lead!
Send us a message and let’s connect!
Support Our Show On Apple Podcasts!
Support Us On YouTube by Subscribing!
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Own Your Niche - Dennis Meador
Season 3 · Episode 15
lundi 16 mars 2026 • Duration 31:18
In this episode The Change Agent Podcast, Eric and Dennis examine how professionals differentiate themselves in crowded, price-driven markets and why authority, trust, and precision positioning matter more than raw visibility.
Dennis “DM” Meador has spent more than two decades working alongside attorneys and professional service firms, observing how digital search and market saturation have reshaped how expertise is perceived and purchased. His work now focuses on helping legal professionals move away from commoditized competition and toward authority-driven positioning through targeted podcasting and content ecosystems designed to attract the right clients rather than the most attention.
The conversation explores the strategic use of podcasting not as a vanity metric exercise but as a trust-building mechanism. Dennis explains why highly specific content aimed at narrowly defined audiences consistently outperforms broad messaging, and why a smaller, highly qualified audience often produces better business outcomes than mass exposure without conversion.
This discussion also addresses how trust is built through audio, why intimacy and consistency matter in long-form conversations, and how answering real client questions in practical terms creates credibility before the first direct interaction ever occurs. The episode highlights how thoughtful content strategy can move relationships from discovery to confidence before a single sales conversation begins.
This is a conversation about influence built on clarity, the economics of trust, and what it takes to stand out when expertise alone is no longer enough.
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Stay Curious, Lead Better - Simon Kardynal
Season 3 · Episode 11
lundi 9 mars 2026 • Duration 44:08
Leadership in the military is changing — and so is authority.
In this episode of The Change Agent, Warrant Officer Simon Kardynal (Royal Canadian Air Force) discusses modern military leadership, generational shifts, empathy in structured systems, and what real accountability looks like at the senior NCO level.
With nearly three decades of service — from infantry to Aircraft Maintenance Superintendent to Chief Warrant Officer — Simon explains:
- How emerging leaders misunderstand authority
- Where empathy fits inside a rigid command structure
- Why failure is essential to leadership growth
- How to balance assertiveness with trust
- The danger of assumptions in command environments
- Leading Gen Z inside hierarchical institutions
- Self-awareness as a leadership weapon
Simon also shares practical tools: rehearsing hard conversations, preparing for discipline decisions, managing physiological reactions under stress, and developing guiding leadership principles.
This is a candid conversation about leadership maturity, emotional intelligence, command responsibility, and the cost of authority.
Topics Covered:
Military leadership
Royal Canadian Air Force
Senior NCO leadership
Empathy in leadership
Generational leadership gaps
Leadership mistakes and recovery
Authentic leadership
Command presence
Failure and accountability
Simon Kardynal - Trench Leadership Website
#Leadership #MilitaryLeadership #EmotionalIntelligence #Command #SelfLeadership #RCAF
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The Science of Leadership - Dr. Valentina Schneider
Season 3 · Episode 6
lundi 26 janvier 2026 • Duration 01:01:04
Leadership advice is everywhere—but leadership that actually works is rare.
In this episode of The Change Agent, Eric sits down with Dr. Valentina Schneider, a leadership advisor and organizational behavior researcher, to unpack what most leaders misunderstand about empathy, assertiveness, and effectiveness.
Drawing from years of academic research and real-world advisory work, Dr. Schneider challenges the false binary that leaders must choose between being nice or being effective. Through evidence-based insight, she explains why that belief is not only wrong—but actively damaging to teams, performance, and careers.
Together, they explore:
- Why conflict is still mostly destructive—and how leaders can make it productive
- The critical difference between cognitive empathy and emotional contagion
- How over-assertiveness quietly erodes trust, safety, and performance
- Why leadership effectiveness lives in a narrow “middle ground” most leaders miss
- How gender norms rig the leadership game—and what leaders can do about it
- Why data, when misused, reinforces bias instead of truth
- How cross-functional teams fail without emotional intelligence at the centre
This is not a conversation about soft skills.
It’s about leadership under pressure, where decisions carry consequences and behaviour sets the emotional temperature of entire organisations.
If you lead people, manage conflict, or operate in high-stakes environments where clarity is rare and responsibility is heavy—this episode will change how you think about leadership.
🎧 Listen closely. The science is clear—but the work is yours.
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Managing a Crisis
Season 1 · Episode 15
mardi 25 mars 2025 • Duration 21:04
In the Season 1 finale of The Change Agent, we’re diving into a high-stakes topic: Managing Through a Crisis. How do the best leaders handle pressure when everything is on the line? The answer lies in the 72-Hour Rule—a powerful strategy used in military, intelligence, and emergency response to make critical decisions and take decisive action in the first 72 hours of a crisis.
Join Eric as he breaks down:
✅ What defines a real crisis (and what doesn’t)
✅ How leaders in mission-critical environments handle rapid decision-making
✅ The OODA Loop, SWOT analysis, and Agile techniques for crisis management
✅ Real-world examples from cybersecurity, disaster response, and defense
✅ How YOU can apply the 72-Hour Rule to project management and leadership
Plus, we’re wrapping up Season 1 and sharing exciting updates for Season 2!
Don’t miss this episode—subscribe, leave a review, and stay tuned for more leadership insights.
🎧 Listen now and learn how to turn crisis into opportunity!
🎧 A conversation about how to manage a crisis in your project or organization.
Support Our Show On Apple Podcasts! - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-change-agent/id1799999172
Support Us On YouTube by Subscribing! - https://www.youtube.com/@TheChangeAgentPodcast
Support Our Show On Spotify! - https://open.spotify.com/show/7JsZOGwhH213aRoYRYnb1A?si=e96df1021c4c4b3b
Support Our Show via Donations below :) - https://www.buzzsprout.com/2449509/support
Send us a message and let’s connect! Email: engage@thechangeagent.com
Thanks for listening and let's go out there and lead!
Send us a message and let’s connect!
Support Our Show On Apple Podcasts!
Support Us On YouTube by Subscribing!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Support the show to help us continue!
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2449509/support
Chaos in Leadership - with Dr. Kevin Mays
Season 3 · Episode 4
lundi 12 janvier 2026 • Duration 56:00
In this episode of The Change Agent, Eric sits down once again with Dr. Kevin Mays to explore one of the most uncomfortable—and defining—realities of leadership: chaos.
When certainty collapses, plans fail, and people look to you for answers you don’t yet have, how you show up matters more than what you know. Together, Eric and Dr. Mays unpack why our obsession with clarity can actually undermine leadership, how expertise can quietly become a liability, and why the most effective leaders learn to stand calmly in uncertainty rather than rush to control it.
This conversation dives deep into:
- Why leaders must learn to be okay with not knowing
- How emotional reactivity spreads through teams—and how calm does the same
- The hidden ways identity and ego block growth and innovation
- Why leadership is less about answers and more about presence
- How great leaders create other leaders, not followers
Drawing on real-world leadership experience—from military command to executive coaching—this episode challenges the idea that leadership is about certainty, authority, or control. Instead, it reframes leadership as an internal discipline: leading yourself first, so others can follow with confidence.
If you lead people in complex, high-pressure environments—or if you aspire to—this episode offers practical insight into navigating chaos without losing yourself or your team.
Send us a message and let’s connect!
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Foundations of Project Management for Leaders
Season 2 · Episode 1
vendredi 11 avril 2025 • Duration 28:52
In this episode of The Change Agent Season 2, Episode 2, Eric guides you through the foundational principles of project management with practical insights inspired by PMBOK Guide Chapter 1. He explores what makes projects unique, outlines the key phases of the project life cycle—from initiation to closure—and emphasizes the importance of tailoring your approach to deliver real value. Blending theory with real-world leadership practices, Eric discusses how empathetic communication, continuous learning, and proactive risk management not only keep projects on track but also empower teams to thrive. Whether you’re new to project management or looking to reinforce your leadership skills, this episode offers actionable strategies to navigate your projects with confidence and adaptability.
🎧 A conversation about project management principles for leaders.
Support Our Show On Apple Podcasts! - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-change-agent/id1799999172
Support Us On YouTube by Subscribing! - https://www.youtube.com/@TheChangeAgentPodcast
Support Our Show On Spotify! - https://open.spotify.com/show/7JsZOGwhH213aRoYRYnb1A?si=e96df1021c4c4b3b
Support Our Show via Donations below :) - https://www.buzzsprout.com/2449509/support
Send us a message and let’s connect! Email: engage@thechangeagent.com
Thanks for listening and let's go out there and lead!
Send us a message and let’s connect!
Support Our Show On Apple Podcasts!
Support Us On YouTube by Subscribing!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Support the show to help us continue!
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2449509/support
Project Control in Action
Season 2 · Episode 9
lundi 26 mai 2025 • Duration 36:38
In Episode 9, Season 2 of The Change Agent, your host Eric explores how to keep your project aligned, focused, and adaptable during the execution phase. Learn how to monitor what matters, manage change without chaos, and lead your team and stakeholders through uncertainty with clarity and confidence. If you’re in the thick of project delivery, this episode gives you the tools to stay in control and deliver value in real time.
🎧 A conversation about getting the action going and to manage.
Support Our Show On Apple Podcasts! - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-change-agent/id1799999172
Support Us On YouTube by Subscribing! - https://www.youtube.com/@TheChangeAgentPodcast
Support Our Show On Spotify! - https://open.spotify.com/show/7JsZOGwhH213aRoYRYnb1A?si=e96df1021c4c4b3b
Support Our Show via Donations below :) - https://www.buzzsprout.com/2449509/support
Send us a message and let’s connect! Email: engage@thechangeagent.com
Thanks for listening and let's go out there and lead!
Send us a message and let’s connect!
Support Our Show On Apple Podcasts!
Support Us On YouTube by Subscribing!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Support the show to help us continue!
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2449509/support
The Courage to Realign with Myrna King
Season 3 · Episode 7
lundi 2 février 2026 • Duration 43:05
What happens when the life you worked hard to build no longer fits?
In this episode of The Change Agent, Eric sits down with Myrna King—business and life coach, former tech consultant, and founder of A Life Aligned—to explore what it really means to make YOURSELF the priority.
Myrna shares how high-performing professionals often reach the goals they fought for, only to discover burnout, misalignment, or a quiet loss of purpose. Together, they unpack why accountability feels threatening, how courage shows up in personal leadership, and why alignment isn’t about doing more—but doing what actually restores you.
This conversation bridges practical leadership execution with inner work, showing how tools like structured project thinking, Socratic questioning, and emotional release practices help leaders move from feeling stuck to living deliberately.
If you’ve ever felt successful on paper but unfulfilled in reality, this episode will help you rethink progress, redefine leadership, and take your next step with clarity.
Send us a message and let’s connect!
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Strategy Hits Reality - With Mr. Mike Jones
Season 3 · Episode 5
lundi 19 janvier 2026 • Duration 52:39
Most organisations don’t fail because they lack strategy.
They fail because reality changes faster than their plans.
In this episode of The Change Agent, Eric sits down with Mike Jones, Founder and Director of LBI Consulting, to unpack what leadership and strategy actually look like when certainty disappears and complexity takes over.
Drawing on his experience as a former British Army officer and leadership instructor at Sandhurst, as well as his work advising organisations across rail, healthcare, infrastructure, and large-scale enterprises, Mike challenges one of the most deeply held assumptions in modern leadership: that more clarity is always better.
Instead, he introduces a more uncomfortable — and more effective — idea: strategic ambiguity.
This conversation explores why over-specified strategies create fragility, how leaders can set clear intent without strangling execution, and why trust, decentralised decision-making, and freedom of action are essential in complex environments.
Together, Eric and Mike discuss:
- Why strategy should be treated as a practice, not a static plan
- How mission command enables adaptability without chaos
- When clarity helps leaders — and when it quietly makes things worse
- The role of trust and mistake-making in high-performing teams
- How organisational structure drives behaviour, not slogans or culture decks
- Why psychometrics and cognitive diversity matter more than personality labels
- How leaders can re-orient in uncertainty instead of clinging to control
- What to do when leadership climate above you is misaligned or corrosive
This is not a conversation about frameworks, buzzwords, or leadership theatre.
It’s about how strategy actually gets executed by real people under pressure.
If you’re a senior leader, programme manager, executive, or anyone navigating complexity where the stakes are real and the answers are incomplete, this episode will challenge how you think about leadership, control, and responsibility.
🎙️ Listen now — and learn why the ability to hold intent firmly, plans loosely, and ego lightly may be the most important leadership capability of our time.
Learn More About:
Mike's podcast - "Strategy Meets Reality"
Send us a message and let’s connect!
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