The Leadership Gambit
The Leadership Gambit The Toolkit for Business and Life You Were Never Taught Let’s be real: you don’t need more cliche advice and a lot of content doesn’t go deep enough. You need practical guidance you can actually use to help you overcome your challenges or achieve your goals. Recent studies show most people today feel unsupported, underprepared, and overwhelmed by a system and management that teaches very little about navigating, leading, or thriving in the chaos of modern life. This podcast is for anyone who’s ready to take ownership of their personal journey and needs a guide to support them along their path. We take over 20 years of real-world experience, hundreds of field experiments, and the best of leadership, psychology, and personal development knowledge and turn it into clear, honest, and useful guidance you can start using right away. No fluff, real talk, and real tools, to thrive at work and in life. Hosted by Chris Miller and Dane Smith. Edited by Joseph Pitz.
Episodes
If you’ve ever felt frustrated or discouraged by breaking resolutions, this episode reframes the entire conversation. The issue isn’t discipline or motivation. It’s that most of us were never taught how to lead ourselves in a way that works with how our brains actually operate.
In this episode, we explore how self-leadership really works, why autopilot takes over under stress, and how identity, environment, and mental priming shape ...
Most people don’t hate work.
They hate how work makes them feel.
In this episode, we break down what actually separates managers people avoid from leaders people trust, follow, and stay for. Not theory. Not corporate buzzwords. Real, human leadership skills you can use immediately.
You’ll learn:
- How to build trust faster than you think
- Why most one-on-ones fail and how to make them meaningful
- How to give feedback without trigger...
Managing your manager is one of the most important career skills no one teaches you. In this episode, we break down practical, real-world tips for managing up, building trust, setting boundaries, and influencing your boss without authority.
You will learn how to handle micromanagers, increase visibility, push back on unrealistic expectations, and create more autonomy at work, without damaging relationships or your reputation.
#podca...
Most of us think we’re taking time off, but our minds never actually stop working. In this episode, we break down why real rest feels so uncomfortable, why guilt shows up the moment we slow down, and how to finally detach in a way that restores your energy instead of draining it.
Rest Without Guilt: The Skill No One Taught Us gives you simple, practical strategies to shut off the mental noise, recharge more deeply, and reconnect wit...
Most people were never taught how money actually works and as a result, millions live with unnecessary stress, paycheck-to-paycheck cycles, and financial habits driven by emotion instead of awareness.
This episode gives listeners the tools to change that.
You’ll learn how financial intelligence shapes your money identity, why cash flow matters more than income, how to build control instead of anxiety, and the core concepts that shift...
In a world where AI can copy almost anything, the one thing it can’t replace is the human experience people have with a brand. That’s why Customer Experience, or CX, has become one of the most powerful career accelerators for Millennials and Gen Z today. It's also built on a foundation of putting people focus at the heart of decisions, which promotes a new class of leader.
In this episode, we break down why CX is the new compe...
In this completely unscripted episode, we break down the real-world skill every professional needs but no one teaches: how to cover your ass at work. From handling unpredictable bosses to navigating messy colleagues, toxic politics, shifting priorities, and sudden blame games, we walk through eight common workplace scenarios and show you exactly how to protect yourself with confidence.
You’ll learn how to respond in high-pressure si...
Think you’re in control of your thoughts? Think again. In this episode, we expose how modern manipulation works, psychologically, emotionally, and digitally. From social media algorithms, emotional triggers, and cognitive hacks, your brain is being shaped by forces you don’t even notice.
In this episode we break down the difference between influence, persuasion, and manipulation, revealing how marketers, leaders, and even...
Most people think they know what leadership is, but what if everything we’ve been taught is wrong? In this episode, we break down why real leaders are disappearing, how companies confuse management with leadership, and what you can do to lead authentically in a system built to suppress it. If you’ve ever wondered why true leadership feels so rare, this conversation will change how you see power, culture, and your own potential to l...
Most people care too much about too little. It's not about not caring though, its about a need to start caring smarter. In this episode, we unpack what “selective caring” really means and why it’s the key to protecting your peace, focus, and confidence. Learn how to detach from the noise, handle criticism without losing your cool, and build emotional boundaries that keep you grounded. If you’re tired of feeling drained by thin...
Power in the workplace is changing fast. In this episode, we unpack the clash between old power (control and hierarchy) and new power (influence and transparency), and what it means for you. Learn how to spot outdated leadership tactics, build credibility through trust, and lead with influence instead of authority. If you want to stay relevant in the new era of work, this episode shows you how to do it.
Additional Resources:
Setbacks can shake you. Your confidence, your identity, your direction. I’ve been there. In this episode, we dig into how to rebuild after life knocks you sideways. You’ll learn how to reframe failure, reset your nervous system, and reconnect with people who lift you back up. If you’ve been questioning your path or struggling to find your footing, this one’s your reminder: you’re never broken, only rebuilding.
Ready...
Learn how to stand up for yourself at work without losing your cool or credibility. Dane and Chris share real strategies for setting boundaries, stopping self-devaluation, and handling disrespect with confidence. Because how people treat you is often how you’ve trained or allowed them to.
Ready to take your personal development to the next level? Visit www.theleadershipmovement.net to request access to our FREE quick...
With more than 20 years in corporate life, Chris shares five harsh truths every professional needs to hear, from toxic bosses to false promises of balance. Learn how to protect yourself, stay sane, and succeed on your own terms.
More Resources:
Rewarding Good Work with More Work - HR Daily Advisor
The Myth of Work-Life Balance | Psychology Today
In a tough job market, average won’t cut it. Learn five practical ways to stand out at work, from setting clear goals to mentoring others, and rise above the competition with strategy, confidence, and intent.
Ready to take your personal development to the next level? Visit www.theleadershipmovement.net to request access to our FREE quick start guides, self-assessments, and other resources that you can use to turn yo...
Experts are everywhere, but not all are credible. In this episode of The Leadership Gambit, we expose the “expert problem” and how to spot bias, fake authority, and recycled theories. Learn to separate truth from noise and take back control of who influences your decisions.
More Resources:
No More Tears by Gardiner Harris | Penguin Random House Canada
When McKinsey Comes to Town: The Hidden Influence of the World's Most Powerful...
Confidence isn’t something you’re born with, it’s something you build. In this episode, we expose the biggest myths about confidence and share practical ways to build real, lasting confidence that holds up when life and work get tough. From separating self-esteem from self-trust, to understanding why confidence has to be maintained like any habit, to challenging the idea that confidence has to be loud, you’ll get a completely new p...
Ever feel like you don’t deserve your success, like you’re just waiting for someone to “find you out”? You’re not alone. Imposter syndrome affects up to 80% of us, including global superstars, CEOs, and maybe even you.
In this episode, we break down what imposter syndrome really is (spoiler: it’s not a clinical diagnosis, and it doesn’t mean you’re broken), why it shows up even in the most accomplished people, and the five personali...
The manager–employee social contract is broken. For decades, trust has eroded as workplaces shifted from caretaking managers and stable career paths to layoffs, cost-cutting, and “at-will” employment. Employees expect fair pay, growth, support, and respect, while managers and companies demand results, reliability, and alignment. When those expectations aren’t clear or met, both sides feel betrayed.
In this episode, we dig into:
- T...
Your reputation at work is a form of political capital, and you’re either investing in it or quietly draining it away. In this episode, we pull back the curtain on five common workplace behaviors that silently damage your personal brand and limit your career growth. From passive-aggressive habits to over-apologizing, these are patterns managers notice even if you think they don’t.
You’ll learn:
- How these behaviors erode trust, cr...
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