Explore every episode of the podcast The QBQ! Podcast
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stop Speaking in Code: What Outstanding! Organizations Do Differently | 25 Mar 2026 | 00:16:52 | |
What do outstanding organizations actually do differently? In this episode of The QBQ! Podcast, I’m joined by my dad, John, as we talk about the books beyond QBQ!—including Flipping the Switch, I Own It!, Raising Accountable Kids, and Outstanding! Each one builds on the same core idea: personal accountability is the foundation for better results—at work, at home, and in leadership. In our conversation, we share:
Whether you’re leading a team, raising kids, or simply looking to grow, I hope this episode challenges you to ask better questions—and take ownership of what comes next. 🎧 As always, the question is: What can I do? Thanks for joining us today! Find out more about QBQ! training opportunities at www.QBQ.com. Follow us! | |||
| From Micromanaging to Leading: The Power of Better Questions | 04 Mar 2026 | 00:28:39 | |
In this episode of the QBQ! Podcast, I’m joined by Laura Train, founder of Integrity Training Solutions and a longtime QBQ practitioner and distributor. Laura first encountered QBQ! while working at the Social Security Administration, and she shares how those simple principles transformed the way she leads, teaches, and responds under pressure. From leadership lessons in government service to a season caring for her mom, Laura talks about how learning to pause and ask better questions helped her move from reacting to responding. If you’ve ever struggled with stress, control, procrastination, or blame, this conversation is a reminder that sometimes the most powerful change begins with one simple question. Thanks for joining us today! Find out more about QBQ! training opportunities at www.QBQ.com. Follow us! | |||
| Accountability in Sales: Kristin Lindeen on the Awesome Impact Podcast | 27 Oct 2025 | 00:33:31 | |
QBQ! goes B2B! Kristin joins John DiMare on The Awesome Impact B2B Sales Podcast to unpack how The Question Behind the Question® empowers sales leaders to stop blaming, start owning, and lead with action. Hear how accountability transforms teams, reduces excuses, and changes results — from the sales floor to the family room. 👉 Listen as Kristin and John connect the dots between personal accountability and professional performance — and why every sales pro needs a little QBQ! in their toolkit.
Thanks for joining us today! Find out more about QBQ! training opportunities at www.QBQ.com. Follow us! | |||
| Accountability Isn’t a Policy—It’s Personal. | 08 Oct 2025 | 00:26:30 | |
When HR leads with accountability, everyone wins. How Liberty Hospital’s HR leader turned one simple book into a movement of personal accountability. Liberty Hospital’s VP of HR, Thomas Murphy, joins Kristin Lindeen to share how QBQ! transformed leadership and culture from the inside out. Discover how personal accountability—not policy—creates stronger teams, better communication, and lasting organizational change. Thanks for joining us today! Find out more about QBQ! training opportunities at www.QBQ.com. Follow us! | |||
| We Don't Leave Companies, We Leave Managers: Becoming an Outstanding Manager with QBQ! | 24 Sep 2025 | 00:14:53 | |
Managers shape culture more than any perk or policy. In this episode, John G. Miller and Kristin Lindeen explore why people often leave managers—not companies—and how personal accountability, humility, and the lessons from Outstanding! can help leaders become truly effective. Resources: 13 Fatal Errors Managers Make and How to Avoid Them by W. Steven Brown Outstanding! 47 Ways to Make Your Organization Exceptional by John G. Miller Manager Training using the Outstanding! material, with Kristin Lindeen Thanks for joining us today! Find out more about QBQ! training opportunities at www.QBQ.com. Follow us! | |||
| Believe or Leave: Building a Performance Culture with CRO Steve Chamberlin | 10 Sep 2025 | 00:20:05 | |
What happens when entitlement and blame meet a culture of accountability? In this episode of the QBQ! Podcast, Kristin Lindeen sits down with Steve Chamberlin, Chief Revenue Officer of Momentum Textiles and Wallcovering, to explore how QBQ has shaped his leadership across multiple organizations since 2007. From transforming Husqvarna’s culture with “Believe or Leave,” to modeling accountability in new roles, to handing out QBQ books to anyone who needs the message—Steve shares stories of how personal accountability isn’t just a corporate tool, it’s a life principle. You’ll hear:
Whether you’re leading a sales team, coaching a sport, or raising a family, this episode reminds us that accountability isn’t optional—it’s the foundation of performance. Thanks for joining us today! Find out more about QBQ! training opportunities at www.QBQ.com. Follow us! | |||
| Walking Our Talk: Marriage, Parenting, and QBQ in Real Life | 27 Aug 2025 | 00:22:44 | |
It’s easy to teach accountability—but much harder to live it at home. Kristin and her husband Erik share real stories of marriage, parenting, and the messy, funny, humbling moments of practicing what they preach with QBQ. Thanks for joining us today! Find out more about QBQ! training opportunities at www.QBQ.com. Follow us! | |||
| Stop Trying to Fix Your Spouse (or Your Boss) | 20 Aug 2025 | 00:14:03 | |
What’s the #1 takeaway from QBQ? According to creator John G. Miller, it’s simple: I can only change me. In this episode, John and Kristin unpack how that truth transforms marriages, parenting, and workplaces alike. From counseling breakthroughs to a young wife who literally saved her marriage with QBQ, the stories highlight the freeing power of personal accountability. Stop trying to fix others—discover what happens when you focus on yourself instead. Thanks for joining us today! Find out more about QBQ! training opportunities at www.QBQ.com. Follow us! | |||
| Leading with Accountability: Vortex Optics’ CEO Joe Hamilton on the QBQ! Mindset | 13 Aug 2025 | 00:27:32 | |
Kristin talks with Joe Hamilton, CEO and President of Vortex Optics, about building a thriving family business through consistency, service, and personal accountability. Joe shares Vortex’s journey from a small trade show tent to the world’s largest sport optics brand, his first encounter with QBQ!, and how its principle-based approach became part of the culture at Vortex. With personal stories—from folding laundry with his kids to owning mistakes at work—Joe shows how QBQ! habits create a ripple effect across teams and customers. He also reveals Vortex’s mission to “Create A Rare Experience” (C.A.R.E.) and why starting with “I” is the key to transforming both leadership and company culture. Thanks for joining us today! Find out more about QBQ! training opportunities at www.QBQ.com. Follow us! | |||
| Kill the ‘We’: Why Accountability Is Always Personal | 06 Aug 2025 | 00:02:46 | |
Why “we” dilutes accountability. Kristin explains why QBQ is always about the “I”—and how shifting your questions can drive real personal accountability. At QBQ, Inc., we've spent over two decades helping teams and individuals understand the power of PERSONAL accountability. Listen in to find out how we make sure to differentiate QBQ! from others forms of accountability training. Thanks for joining us today! Find out more about QBQ! training opportunities at www.QBQ.com. Follow us! | |||
| How We Do QBQ! Today: Building Cultures on Personal Accountability | 31 Jul 2025 | 00:13:19 | |
In this episode, Kristin and her dad, John, pull back the curtain on how QBQ! operates today—from selling books and licensing training to delivering powerful keynotes and workshops. They reflect on what makes QBQ successful in organizations long-term, share behind-the-scenes stories from clients like Husqvarna and Kiddie Academy, and emphasize the role of leadership ownership in sustaining change. You’ll hear why QBQ isn’t just a one-time program—it’s a cultural shift. Plus, a few laughs, a little parenting wisdom, and an open invite to share your own QBQ story! Thanks for joining us today! Find out more about QBQ! training opportunities at www.QBQ.com. Follow us! | |||
| The Story of QBQ! – Part 4: How the QBQ Spread | 22 Jul 2025 | 00:11:29 | |
In this episode, John and Kristin pick up where Part 3 left off—sharing what happened after the first QBQ book hit the shelves. Hear how one self-published book titled Personal Accountability evolved into multiple editions of QBQ! The Question Behind the Question, and how unexpected moments—like a request from a hotel chain or a question from an audience member—shaped the content and the company. From living rooms to boardrooms, the message of personal accountability has stuck with people for decades, creating a ripple effect across industries. Join us as we explore how real feedback, practical tools, and the simple focus on “What can I do?” made QBQ a lasting solution to workplace blame, victim thinking, and procrastination. Thanks for joining us today! Find out more about QBQ! training opportunities at www.QBQ.com. Follow us! | |||
| Raising an Accountable Generation: What It Takes to Raise Ownership at Every Age | 11 Feb 2026 | 00:26:55 | |
Part 2 of a conversation with the Coast to Coast Camps leadership team, this episode turns the focus to parenting, modeling, and what it really takes to raise an accountable generation. From foster care to grandparenting, from toddlers to adult children, this conversation spans every stage of parenting—and one shared conviction: accountability isn’t taught through lectures, it’s learned by watching the adults go first. You’ll hear real stories about cleaning up your own mess, choosing ownership over excuses, and why “do as I do” carries far more weight than “do as I say.” The team also explores why Raising Accountable Kids resonated deeply with their staff members, many non-parents, how reading this parenting book built empathy and maturity in the young staff. Whether you’re a parent, leader, educator, or simply someone trying to live your values more consistently, this episode is a reminder that the example we set—especially in the small, ordinary moments—is what shapes the next generation. Thanks for joining us today! Find out more about QBQ! training opportunities at www.QBQ.com. Follow us! | |||
| The Story of QBQ! Part 3: The Leap that Launched QBQ! | 16 Jul 2025 | 00:15:17 | |
“Where did QBQ come from?” It all started with 10,000 hours — hours spent listening to managers, leading workshops, and asking: “What’s the better question?” In 1995, John took the leap: he left a secure career, invested his own money, and stepped onto stages nationwide to share QBQ. With no website, no email, just phone calls and cassette tapes, he built a national speaking career — one question at a time. The first book — simple, blue, and silver — sold 50,000 copies when most books never crack 5,000. It turned the QBQ idea into a movement that’s still changing lives today. The message? QBQ remains as practical and powerful as ever — and now, the legacy continues in new ways, like this podcast. Thanks for joining us today! Find out more about QBQ! training opportunities at www.QBQ.com. Follow us! | |||
| The Story of QBQ! Part 2: If You Don't Like Your Life, Change It! | 09 Jul 2025 | 00:13:43 | |
What happens when one bold piece of advice changes everything? In Part 2 of the Story of QBQ! series, we dive into the pivotal moment when a friend challenged John Miller with seven powerful words: That spark led John to walk away from his safe desk job and take a leap into sales—a world he knew nothing about. Guided by a mentor who let him fail his way forward, John built the foundation that would eventually launch his successful speaking career and the creation of QBQ! The Question Behind the Question®. 🎙️ In this episode:
🔑 A story about risk, responsibility, and the power of owning your choices. Thanks for joining us today! Find out more about QBQ! training opportunities at www.QBQ.com. Follow us! | |||
| The Story of QBQ! Part 1: Before the QBQ--The Early Life of John G. Miller | 02 Jul 2025 | 00:15:49 | |
In this episode, we take a step back in time to explore the early life and beginnings of John G. Miller — long before he became the author of QBQ! and a leading voice on personal accountability. From growing up in a large family in Upstate New York to navigating his first jobs and early career challenges, John shares the moments and influences that shaped his values, work ethic, and eventual path as a speaker and writer. Interviewed by his eldest daughter and co-speaker, Kristin Lindeen, it’s a personal, down-to-earth look at the man behind the message. Whether you're a longtime fan or just getting to know John, this episode offers a fresh perspective on where it all began. #JohnGMiller #QBQPodcast #OriginStory #Leadership #PersonalAccountability #SelfDevelopment #QBQpodcastseries Thanks for joining us today! Find out more about QBQ! training opportunities at www.QBQ.com. Follow us! | |||
| Launching The QBQ! Podcast | 25 Jun 2025 | 00:04:31 | |
Whether you’re aiming to take your business to new heights, increase sales and productivity, or raise confident, responsible kids—you’re exactly where you need to be. What’s the secret? It’s the power of personal accountability — and it all starts with the bestselling book QBQ! The Question Behind the Question. If you haven’t read it yet, we highly recommend picking up a copy. It’s packed with practical wisdom that can transform how you lead at work, grow as a parent, and succeed in life. Every episode of our podcast, hosted by Kristin and John, dives into these powerful concepts, showing how personal accountability is the foundation of success in all areas of life. No blame. No excuses. Just ownership — it’s really that simple. Ready to take that next step? Tune in to our latest episodes and start asking better questions today. Thank you for being part of our community! Thanks for joining us today! Find out more about QBQ! training opportunities at www.QBQ.com. Follow us! | |||
| When Every Problem Points to You: From Bottleneck to Breakthrough | 04 Feb 2026 | 00:20:41 | |
When Every Problem Points to You From Bottleneck to Breakthrough What do you do when every problem seems to land on you? In this episode of the QBQ! Podcast, I’m joined by the leadership team from Coast to Coast Camps for a conversation about leadership, culture, and personal accountability. Bud Harley shares how discovering QBQ! helped shift responsibility from bottlenecking at the top to becoming a shared language across the team. We talk about what it looks like to eliminate blame and waiting, why accountability doesn’t require a position, and how asking better questions leads to action. If you lead people in any capacity—at work, in a nonprofit or ministry, or at home—this episode is an invitation to stop carrying everything alone and start moving responsibility forward. This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation. In Part 2, we shift the focus to parenting, fostering, and raising the next generation of accountable kids and leaders. Thanks for joining us today! Find out more about QBQ! training opportunities at www.QBQ.com. Follow us! | |||
| You Can’t Hold People Accountable (And Why That’s Good News for Leaders) | 21 Jan 2026 | 00:06:22 | |
“I still have to hold my people accountable.” Managers say this all the time—and it’s a fair question. In this short, one-off episode of the QBQ! Podcast, Kristin Lindeen clarifies the difference between personal accountability and holding others accountable—and why that distinction matters for leaders. Drawing from a recent leadership workshop and a powerful insight shared by a frontline manager, Kristin explores two common myths of accountability and explains why no leader can make someone rise to the standard. In this episode, you’ll learn:
🎧 Ideal for managers, supervisors, team leads, and parents. If this episode resonated, consider sharing it with a leader who may be carrying responsibility that isn’t theirs. Thanks for joining us today! Find out more about QBQ! training opportunities at www.QBQ.com. Follow us! | |||
| Great Hospitality Starts with Better Questions: The QBQ Approach to Restaurant Leadership and Accountability | 07 Jan 2026 | 00:24:21 | |
Why Great Hospitality Starts with Better Questions In the restaurant world, it’s easy to spend your days reacting—putting out fires, fixing mistakes, and wondering why people “just don’t get it.” Over time, that way of leading wears people down. In this episode of the QBQ! Podcast, I talk with restaurant consultant and operator Vince Lanni about how asking better questions can change what’s happening on the restaurant floor. We discuss why blaming people doesn’t improve performance, how leaders can shift from reacting to leading, and the two questions Vince believes every restaurant owner should be asking regularly. If you work in hospitality—whether you’re managing a shift, leading a team, or running the business—this conversation is a practical reminder that great hospitality starts with personal accountability. Thanks for joining us today! Find out more about QBQ! training opportunities at www.QBQ.com. Follow us! | |||
| Why the Questions We Ask Matter (with Charles Alexander): A featured conversation from the Do More By Doing Less podcast | 24 Dec 2025 | 00:17:48 | |
This week, we’re sharing a conversation from the Do More By Doing Less podcast, hosted by Charles Alexander. Charles recently sat down with my dad, John G. Miller, author of QBQ! The Question Behind the Question, for a thoughtful conversation about why the questions we ask matter more than we realize. John talks about how QBQ grew out of years of listening to leaders ask the wrong questions — and how a simple shift from “Why don’t they…?” to “What can I do?” can change the way we show up at work and at home. They cover the heart of QBQ, including personal accountability, the three traps that tend to trip us up (victim thinking, blame, and procrastination), and the powerful reminder that we can only change ourselves. It’s an easy, practical listen — and a great refresher on asking better questions. Charles Alexander is a business coach and host of the Do More by Doing Less podcast, where he helps entrepreneurs, small business owners, and busy professionals simplify their work, reduce overwhelm, and focus on what drives real results. Through coaching and practical conversations, Charles teaches how to grow a business without burnout by doing less — better. Find out more at https://www.yourcharlesalexander.com/ Thanks for joining us today! Find out more about QBQ! training opportunities at www.QBQ.com. Follow us! | |||
| Careers Aren't Straight Lines: Taking Ownership from Customer Service to Operational Excellence | 09 Dec 2025 | 00:23:06 | |
In this episode, Kristin talks with Cindy Darnell of Element about how personal accountability shapes everything from team dynamics and customer service to parenting and career growth. Cindy shares how QBQ helped her move from blame to ownership, influenced her leadership journey, and continues to guide her mindset at work and at home. A powerful reminder that no matter the role, the path forward always starts with what we choose to do. Thanks for joining us today! Find out more about QBQ! training opportunities at www.QBQ.com. Follow us! | |||
| Letting Go and Letting Be: A Peaceful Holiday Season | 27 Nov 2025 | 00:06:12 | |
Kristin shares seven simple “let” ideas—let go, let loose, let others, let up, let in, let be, and let me—to help create a calmer, more joyful holiday season. A quick QBQ reminder to pause and ask: What can I do to bring more joy to the people around me? Thanks for joining us today! Find out more about QBQ! training opportunities at www.QBQ.com. Follow us! | |||
| The Story of QBQ! – Part 5: The Shaping of the QBQ! book with David Levin | 12 Nov 2025 | 00:22:38 | |
In Part 5 of The Story of QBQ! series, Kristin talks with David Levin — the creative partner who helped shape the QBQ! book we all know today. Together they revisit how it all came together, from cassette tapes to a timeless message of Personal Accountability. We’re back with Part 5 of The Story of QBQ! series — and this one’s a fun behind-the-scenes conversation you won’t want to miss. My guest is David Levin, the creative partner who helped my dad, John G. Miller, shape the QBQ! book into the clear, practical, and powerful message it is today. David and I talk about how he and my dad first connected back in the cassette-tape days (yes, really), what led to rewriting the original book, and how their teamwork helped QBQ! become a timeless guide to Personal Accountability. It’s part history, part friendship, and all QBQ heart. With a surprise guest appearance that surprises and delights! Find out more about David Levin and what he's doing now at DavidLevin.com Thanks for joining us today! Find out more about QBQ! training opportunities at www.QBQ.com. Follow us! | |||