Uncommon Impact

What’s the difference between accepting your role and owning it?

Nathan shares the unusual story behind The Soul of a Team—a book that began with a rejected 60,000-word manuscript and had to be completely reinvented—and then explores one of its central principles: Own Your Role.

Through the story of Chicago Bulls player Stacey King and Nathan’s own unexpected first assignment with the Jacksonville Jaguars, thi...

What makes a story worth telling — and a life worth living?

Andy Janning has spent decades helping organizations and leaders tell better stories. But his own story has increasingly pushed him toward work that is anything but safe.

In this episode of Uncommon Impact, Andy joins Nathan Whitaker to talk about Overdrawn, his new investigative documentary podcast exploring what happens when trust breaks inside an institution and a c...

Former MLB All-Star Chris Archer spent 17 years in professional baseball, including 10 seasons in the major leagues. Today, as a Special Assistant with the Los Angeles Dodgers, he's using those experiences to help develop the next generation of players.

In this episode of Uncommon Impact, Chris talks with Nathan Whitaker about the people who invested in him, the mentor who changed the trajectory of his life, and why player developme...

What does it really mean to make an uncommon impact?

Years ago, Tony Dungy’s college football coach Cal Stoll told him, “Success is uncommon.” That idea eventually helped inspire our book Uncommon—and, years later, the name of this podcast.

But being uncommon isn’t simply about achieving uncommon success.

In this solo episode, I share a lesson I had to learn myself after Quiet Strength became a #1 New Yor...

What makes a great follower? And why might developing great followers matter just as much as developing great leaders?

Larry Shyatt has spent more than four decades in basketball as a head coach, assistant coach and mentor. Along the way, he served as an assistant to three Hall of Fame-caliber coaches—Rick Barnes, Billy Donovan and Rick Carlisle—even though Larry was older than all three.

In this episode of Uncommon Impac...

Tansley Stearns, president and CEO of orsa credit union, joins Nathan Whitaker for a conversation about purpose, courage, financial agency, and the responsibility of leaders to expand what their organizations believe is possible.

Tansley shares how orsa’s work with survivors of domestic and economic abuse grew from charitable support into a broader commitment to help women make choices on their own behalf. She explains the thi...

What does culture actually look like in the everyday life of an organization?

In this solo episode of Uncommon Impact, Nathan Whitaker reflects on lessons from the podcast’s first four guests and explores two themes that surfaced repeatedly: culture and connection.

Drawing from experiences in coaching, university leadership, the NFL, and international schools, Nathan looks at how culture is shaped not only by formal leaders, bu...

What does strong leadership look like when the pressure is high, the personalities are difficult, and every decision affects the entire organization?

Samir Suleiman spent more than two decades in the NFL with the Jacksonville Jaguars, St. Louis Rams, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Carolina Panthers. Along the way, he negotiated contracts, managed competing priorities, worked alongside future Hall of Fame coaches, and learned firsthand wha...

What does it mean to build something that lasts beyond your career?

In this episode of Uncommon Impact, University of Oklahoma Associate Vice President Matt Rom shares lessons on authentic leadership, creating meaningful workplace cultures, navigating change, and investing in people. Although he leads facilities management at one of the nation's largest universities, Matt's insights apply to leaders in every profession.

Our conversat...

What is the real purpose of sports? 

In this episode of Uncommon Impact, Nathan Whitaker sits down with Kent Maxson, Athletics Coordinator at the American School Foundation in Mexico City, to discuss leadership, culture, and why athletics should develop people—not just produce victories. 

Drawing from more than two decades of being involved in athletic programs in Qatar, Kenya, Vietnam, and Mexico, Kent shares how mov...

What makes a leader worth following?

In this episode of Uncommon Impact, Nathan Whitaker sits down with longtime friend Donnie Jones, head basketball coach at Stetson University and former University of Florida assistant coach during the Gators' back-to-back national championship seasons.

Donnie shares lessons from nearly four decades in coaching about leadership, culture, relationships, and why true success is measured by the lives ...

Why Uncommon Impact?

Why do some people leave those around them better than they found them?

Welcome to Uncommon Impact. In this introductory episode, Nathan Whitaker shares the vision behind the podcast and why he believes the most meaningful conversations aren't just about success—they're about significance, character, and the lasting impact we have on others.

Drawing on more than three decades in professional sports, leadersh...