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Welcome to the Empowered Team Podcast where we explore how to optimize your performance in leadership, business, and life.
Episodes
Monday Apr 06, 2026
Monday Apr 06, 2026
Kyle McDowell - Former Fortune 500 executive who led 30,000+ employees across multi-billion dollar P&Ls. Author of the USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestseller Begin With We and upcoming Win With We (2027). Now keynote speaker and leadership consultant focused on transforming organizational culture.
What You'll Discover:
The hidden cost of "successful" leadership - why being good at your job can still leave you empty, unhealthy, and disconnected from the people who matter most.
How one midnight realization created a cultural transformation that's now implemented across dozens of organizations worldwide.
The difference between bosses who inspire fear and leaders who inspire performance - and why your team's behavior when you're OUT of the room tells you everything.
Why simple doesn't mean easy - and how 10 straightforward principles eliminate the ambiguity that kills execution.
The relationship between vulnerability, challenge, and trust - and why the people who push back hardest can become your greatest allies.
How measuring outcomes (not activity) stops the meeting-about-the-meeting madness that deflates your team.
Key Themes:
- Leadership transformation and self-reflection
- Creating behavioral expectations vs. just job descriptions
- The power of challenging each other (not just top-down feedback)
- Authenticity as the foundation of trust
- Obsessing over details as competitive advantage
- Leading the same way at work and home
Standout Moment: Kyle's direct report Julia went from being his most difficult team member to one of his closest confidants - proof that embracing challenge changes everything.
The Bottom Line: You don't have to hate Sundays. You don't have to bang your fist to get results. And you definitely don't have to sacrifice who you are to lead effectively. The 10 Wes framework proves there's a better way - one that delivers both performance AND fulfillment.
Connect with Kyle:
- Instagram/TikTok/YouTube/Facebook/Twitter: @KyleMcDowellInc
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylemcdowellinc/
- Website: https://kylemcdowellinc.com/
- Book: Begin With We (available now): https://kylemcdowellinc.com/bestselling-book/
Monday Mar 30, 2026
Monday Mar 30, 2026
What happens when a high-performing leader—someone wired for speed, scale, and big outcomes—gets forced to slow down? In this powerful interview, Kari Schneider sits down with American entrepreneur, engineer, and investor Jason Shipley, founder of Midwest Custom Engineering, to talk about leadership, resilience, and the inner game that keeps a team (and a family) thriving.
Jason shares how he’s building mission-driven engineering solutions that impact real life—from animal feed and pet food processing to emerging water technologies—and why culture is the true engine of sustainable growth. But this conversation goes deeper: Jason opens up about profound personal loss, the practices that helped him keep moving forward, and how consistency becomes a form of self-trust—especially when you don’t feel like you can.
If you’re a leader who moves fast, carries a lot, and wants to lead with more calm, clarity, and connection—this episode will meet you right where you are.
Key topics covered:
- Building a business where culture builds the company (not the other way around)
- The leadership shift from “me” to “we”—and why it changes everything
- How to create feedback loops so problems don’t fester
- “Slow is smooth, smooth is fast”: the calm that increases performance
- What consistency really means: 1,068 consecutive daily 5Ks
- The simple relationship question that strengthens connection: “What do you need today?”
- Curating your environment and community so you don’t lead alone
Key takeaway:
High achievement becomes sustainable when you stop sprinting in your head and start leading with presence—because the strongest leaders don’t just drive results… they build people, trust, and culture that lasts.
Listen in, then ask yourself: Where do I need to slow down to speed up—and what’s the one daily commitment that proves I won’t quit on myself?
Want to know more Jason and his activities?
- Jason on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasonshipley83/
- Midwest Custom Engineering: https://www.midwestcustomengineering.com/
- Live Like Jake Foundation: https://livelikejake.com/
💬 Start a conversation with Kari’s AI → https://www.delphi.ai/karischneider
👉 Want to use AI to amplify your leadership? Grab our free guide “The 50 Best AI Prompts for Executives” → https://thehumanalgorithm.ai/free-ai-guide
Monday Mar 23, 2026
Monday Mar 23, 2026
Knowing what to do isn’t the problem—taking consistent action is.
In this episode of the Empowered Team Podcast, host Kari Schneider continues the Inner Game series with a powerful focus on action. Building on the previous episodes about pausing and embracing change, Kari shares three deceptively simple questions that help leaders move forward—even when motivation is low, willpower is depleted, and life gets messy.
Drawing from neuroscience, habit research, and personal stories (including a surprisingly relatable struggle with consistency), Kari breaks down why action breaks down—and how to make progress inevitable instead of exhausting.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Why inconsistent execution is the real outcome killer
- How to take action without relying on motivation or willpower
- The question that instantly lowers resistance and bypasses perfectionism
- How to anticipate obstacles without sabotaging your mindset
- Why clarity, simplicity, and environment outperform discipline every time
- How to make new actions repeatable, sustainable, and automatic
Key takeaway:
You don’t rise to your goals—you fall to your systems.
And the right questions can build systems that work with your brain, not against it.
🎧 Tune in to discover the three questions that turn “I know what to do” into I’m actually doing it.
💬 Start a conversation with Kari’s AI → https://www.delphi.ai/karischneider
👉 Want to use AI to amplify your leadership? Grab our free guide “The 50 Best AI Prompts for Executives” → https://thehumanalgorithm.ai/free-ai-guide
Monday Mar 16, 2026
Monday Mar 16, 2026
Why is change so hard—even when we know what to do?
In this powerful episode of the Empowered Team Podcast, host Kari Schneider breaks down why awareness alone doesn’t lead to transformation—and what actually does. This episode is part of the Inner Game Series: The Power of Questions, and it introduces three deceptively simple questions that make change easier, more aligned, and far more sustainable.
Instead of forcing willpower or battling old habits, Kari shows how to guide your inner game so change feels intentional—not exhausting.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
- Why awareness is necessary—but not sufficient—for real change
- How to stop defaulting to old patterns under stress
- The role of identity and values in making change stick
- Why fighting impulses gives them more power (and what works instead)
- How to replace habits without deprivation or guilt
The 3 Questions for Change:
- What do I want? (Honest awareness—without judgment)
- What’s a better option than my first impulse? (Flexibility over force)
- Why does this matter to me? (Values-based motivation that lasts)
Key Takeaway:
Change becomes sustainable when it’s connected to who you are becoming—not who you’re trying to stop being.
Listen now and keep these questions handy—for leadership moments, health decisions, tough conversations, and any time change feels hard.
💬 Start a conversation with Kari’s AI → https://www.delphi.ai/karischneider
👉 Want to use AI to amplify your leadership? Grab our free guide “The 50 Best AI Prompts for Executives” → https://thehumanalgorithm.ai/free-ai-guide
Monday Mar 09, 2026
Monday Mar 09, 2026
In this solo episode, host Kari Schneider dives deep into the inner game of leadership and self-mastery—starting with what may be the most underrated tool of all: the pause.
This is part 1 of a new 3-part series called The Power of Questions, and it starts by rewiring your reactivity. Kari introduces the three simple but powerful questions that instantly shift your brain from impulsive to intentional—so you can make better choices, build stronger habits, and lead with clarity (even under pressure).
🔑 In this episode:
- Why your best actions start before you act
- How to override fear, urgency, or old habits in 30 seconds
- The real reason we self-sabotage (and how to stop)
- How to reconnect with your future self in the moment
If you want to optimize performance and outcomes—in your business, relationships, or daily decisions—this is a must-listen.
🎯 Your self-mastery starts with a pause. Let's go.
💬 Start a conversation with Kari’s AI → https://www.delphi.ai/karischneider
👉 Want to use AI to amplify your leadership? Grab our free guide “The 50 Best AI Prompts for Executives” → https://thehumanalgorithm.ai/free-ai-guide
Monday Mar 02, 2026
Monday Mar 02, 2026
In this soul-stirring episode of the Empowered Team Podcast, host Kari Schneider sits down with seasoned entrepreneur Sandy Moll, a woman who has built multi-million dollar businesses, navigated financial collapse, and found peace and prosperity—not just in business, but in life.
With a background in finance, real estate, and entrepreneurship, Sandy is the founder of Advanced Business Solutions and multiple other companies—all of which she operates with zero employees, minimal hours, and maximum impact.
Key themes covered:
- The transformative power of silence and stillness in decision-making.
- Building a life and business based on purpose, people, and prosperity—without compromise.
- How Sandy scaled 5 companies, including an operating farm and event center, without traditional marketing.
- What she calls her “2x4 moments” when life (or God) demanded a bigger shift.
- The key to leading with faith, trust, and a refusal to hustle for worthiness.
🧠 Takeaway: Your leadership and peace of mind are not found in the noise—they’re born in the quiet. This is a masterclass in self-mastery for leaders craving clarity, purpose, and real prosperity.
🔗 Learn more about Sandy at www.abs-core.com or connect with her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandymoll
💬 Start a conversation with Kari’s AI → https://www.delphi.ai/karischneider
👉 Want to use AI to amplify your leadership? Grab our free guide “The 50 Best AI Prompts for Executives” → https://thehumanalgorithm.ai/free-ai-guide
Monday Feb 23, 2026
Monday Feb 23, 2026
In this episode of The Empowered Team Podcast, host Kari Schneider sits down with powerhouse leader Erica Sinner — multi 8-figure founder of Directory, CEO, and bestselling author of Pets Are Family. Erica’s mission? Revolutionizing leadership with empathy, operational compassion, and high-performance culture that doesn’t burn people out.
💥 With 20+ years in life sciences and biotech, Erica built Directory to help small-to-mid pharma companies commercialize with confidence — giving employees stability even in uncertain regulatory cycles.
But Erica’s impact doesn’t stop at the boardroom:
- She’s a driving force behind Tiny Superheroes, helping hospitalized kids feel brave through the power of play and purpose.
- She’s reshaping company policy with her advocacy for pet bereavement leave, recognizing the deep emotional bonds people have with their animals.
Topics We Cover:
- How to build emotionally intelligent, high-performance teams
- What CEOs are getting wrong about empathy (and how to fix it)
- Why laughter, connection, and play are not just for kids
- The powerful story behind Pets Are Family — and how grief shows up at work
- The loneliness epidemic, AI’s rising influence, and why the human algorithm still matters most
Key Quote:
🧠 “You can have an empathy-driven culture AND expect incredible results.”
If you're ready to lead with more impact, heart, and clarity — this episode will move you.
🔗 Grab Erica’s book Pets Are Family: https://www.amazon.com/Pets-are-Family-simple-that/dp/B0CTSFLYYT
🔗 Connect with Erica: Website: https://www.erikasinner.org/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erika_sinner/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erikasinner
💬 Start a conversation with Kari’s AI → https://www.delphi.ai/karischneider
👉 Want to use AI to amplify your leadership? Grab our free guide “The 50 Best AI Prompts for Executives” → https://thehumanalgorithm.ai/free-ai-guide
Monday Feb 16, 2026
Monday Feb 16, 2026
Guest: Anthony Cudjo, aka Coach Cujo — human optimization expert, professional athlete, speaker, spiritual mentor, and 30+ year coach.
In this powerful episode, we dive into the untapped potential already encoded in your DNA. From breaking free of societal conditioning to reversing illness and mastering self-leadership, Cujo delivers potent truth-bombs on:
- Why most people are stuck in “sheep” mode — and how to step into your inner shepherd
- The spiritual laws behind true health, wealth & fulfillment
- How your internal conversation creates your external reality
- Why silence is your greatest power — and how 5 minutes of daily meditation can radically shift your life
- A step-by-step breakdown of Coach Cujo’s daily rituals for energy, purpose and creation
- A blueprint for letting go of judgment, fear and illness — and unlocking self-healing and deep alignment
✨ “You’re not following anyone — you’re following YOUR purpose.”
Whether you're burned out, unfulfilled or craving a deeper connection to your leadership and life — this one will light a fire under your identity.
🔗 Connect with Coach Cujo: www.urh3o.com | Instagram @humanoptimization3.0
🎧 Listen now and start activating your higher operating system.
💬 Start a conversation with Kari’s AI → https://www.delphi.ai/karischneider
👉 Want to use AI to amplify your leadership? Grab our free guide “The 50 Best AI Prompts for Executives” → https://thehumanalgorithm.ai/free-ai-guide
Monday Feb 09, 2026
Monday Feb 09, 2026
You hired an A-player who crushed it at first. Now they're disengaged, missing deadlines, producing mediocre work. Your first thought? "Motivation problem. Attitude issue."
Wrong diagnosis.
In this episode, I break down why A-players underperform—and it's almost never about the person. It's about the environment, the role, and the authority they're given
You'll learn:
- The 3 I's that define an A-player (Integrity, Initiative, Intelligence)
- Why work ethic = Initiative + Integrity (this changes everything)
- The 3 biggest mistakes leaders make with high performers
- The 3 unlocks A-players need: Right Role, Right Authority, Right Environment
- Why A-players in the wrong environment struggle MORE than average players
- The truth about "borrowed authority" and why it kills momentum
Whether you're a leader trying to unlock your team's potential or an A-player feeling stuck, this episode will help you diagnose the real problem and fix what actually matters.
Key Quote:
"Nothing suffocates an A-player faster than borrowed authority. If the role fights the person, the person loses or leaves."
💬 Start a conversation with Kari’s AI → https://www.delphi.ai/karischneider
👉 Want to use AI to amplify your leadership? Grab our free guide “The 50 Best AI Prompts for Executives” → https://thehumanalgorithm.ai/free-ai-guide
Monday Feb 02, 2026
Monday Feb 02, 2026
Who you believe you are determines how you lead, how you show up, and what results you create—whether you realize it or not.
In this powerful solo episode, Kari Schneider introduces the concept of Identity Architecture—the science-backed framework that explains how thoughts become beliefs, beliefs become behaviors, and behaviors become identity.
This episode is for leaders, entrepreneurs, and high performers who feel stuck repeating patterns they know no longer serve them.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Why your “I am” statements are shaping your future (even when they’re wrong)
- How identity is formed through repeated thoughts, emotions, and actions
- The science of self-signaling and how your behaviors teach your brain who you are
- Why habits are actually identity in action (inspired by Atomic Habits)
- The 3-step Identity Architecture process:
- Notice your identity stories
- Choose a new identity (without lying to yourself)
- Build it through aligned actions
Key Takeaway:
You are not broken. You are not stuck.
You are simply living inside an identity that was built unintentionally—and you can rebuild it on purpose.
🎧 Listen now and start becoming the person your future demands.
💬 Start a conversation with Kari’s AI → https://www.delphi.ai/karischneider
👉 Want to use AI to amplify your leadership? Grab our free guide “The 50 Best AI Prompts for Executives” → https://thehumanalgorithm.ai/free-ai-guide