In this episode of The Learn-It-All™ Podcast, host Damon Lembi welcomes Pearce Cucchissi, a former Army Ranger and elite performance coach who specializes in human optimization for both world-class athletes and top executives. Pearce shares groundbreaking insights into why CEOs must train like athletes to sustain their peak performance and avoid burnout. He discusses the essential human operating system that underpins both elite athletes and executives, highlighting the importance of mental resilience, physical optimization, and strategic habits. Tune in to learn how executives can implement simple yet powerful changes in their routines to extend their careers, improve their health, and thrive under pressure.

Whether you're looking to optimize your mental state or enhance your physical well-being, this episode offers actionable strategies to transform your leadership approach.

In this episode, you'll learn:

1. Why CEOs and executives should adopt athletic training principles to optimize their mental and physical health.
2. The importance of "meeting-to-meeting resets" and how to prepare your mind and body for back-to-back high-pressure meetings.
3. Why resilience beats mental toughness every time, and how to build a resilient mindset.
4. How executives can avoid burnout by connecting their physical health to their broader career goals.
5. The surprising link between breathwork, energy, and long-term professional success.

Timestamps:

1. 00:00 - Episode preview and introduction
2. 02:08 - Why do CEOs ignore the power of athletic training?
3. 03:42 - The secret reset: How to bounce back between meetings
4. 05:36 - Is your health sabotaging your career?
5. 07:23 - Are you a ticking time bomb? Unpacking burnout in executives
6. 09:52 - Resilience vs toughness: What really wins?
7. 11:30 - The one simple thing that will change your life
8. 14:27 - How military experience translates to executive leadership
9. 17:46 - The hidden ingredient for longevity as a leader
10. 22:50 - Why are top performers missing the mark?
11. 38:43 - How writing can unlock your emotional resilience
12. 44:02 - The surprising role of a coach in your executive success
13. 55:12 - Ready for a reset? Pearce’s unique executive coaching approach

About Pearce Cucchissi

Pearce Cucchissi is a former Army Ranger with a distinguished career in special operations. He now works as an elite performance coach for executives and athletes, helping them enhance their mental and physical resilience. With a deep understanding of...

Every leader knows what an iPhone is—but have you ever thought about your own “human operating system”?

In this eye-opening episode, Damon welcomes trusted advisor Townsend Wardlaw to the Learn-It-All™ podcast for a deeply practical—and often surprising—conversation about mindset, leadership, and personal transformation. Using vivid analogies and candid stories, Townsend Wardlaw challenges leaders to rethink the “code” they’re running: are you operating on beliefs that hold you back, or fuel your growth? From updating your personal OS to escaping the trap of “trying harder,” this episode delivers powerful frameworks and real-life examples for anyone ready to break through their own limits.

Whether you’re a founder stuck at a plateau, a manager coaching high performers, or simply someone seeking more fulfillment, you’ll walk away with tools to shift your perspective, transform your energy, and unlock new outcomes—no performance hacks required.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. How your “human operating system” shapes every action, relationship, and result—often without you realizing it
2. Why the most successful founders get stuck by relying on self-reliance—and how to rewire for growth
3. The critical difference between asking “how do I solve this?” vs. “who needs to show up?” (and the impact for big goals)
4. Why letting go of control, credit, and blame can unlock unprecedented energy and peace
5. How to shift limiting operating system beliefs through awareness—in yourself and in others
6. What truly transformational coaching looks like (spoiler: it isn’t about providing answers!)
7. Simple, practical ways anyone can start “updating their code” and designing the life—and leadership—they truly desire

Timestamps:

00:00 – The iPhone analogy for human operating systems

01:40 – How your underlying “code” determines perception and results

06:17 – “Who, Not How”—how shifting the question changes everything

08:27 – Real founder story: making the impossible, possible

10:44 – Why working harder won’t scale—and what to do instead

14:33 – The role of ego and self-reliance in leadership (and its dark side)

19:11 – “How much is really up to me?”: India trip, humility, and insight

22:46 – What founders unlock when their responsibility drops from 90% to 5%

26:55 – Are you playing to win, or not to lose? Problem-solving reexamined

28:32 – Seeing situations differently: the “glass elevator” metaphor

33:34 – Is it really hard… or have you just never practiced?

37:39 – Awareness is the key to performance, growth, and leadership

41:12 – How to create from commitment, not inventory

49:13 – What sets transformational coaching apart

51:09 – Actionable advice for new managers and coaches

56:13 – Awareness: the most powerful coaching tool you’ve never used

59:07 – Where to find Townsend Wardlaw online

01:00:24 – The must-ask question: What do you truly desire?

About Townsend Wardlaw

Townsend Wardlaw is a sought-after advisor working with select founders and leadership teams, as well as top coaches worldwide. His unique perspective blends deep business experience—including his own founder journey—with cutting-edge mindset and transformational coaching. After a career-defining setback led...

Even high-performing teams can be unhappy—and leaders who want to create workplaces where people thrive need a new playbook.

In this energizing episode of the Learn-It-All™ podcast, Damon sits down with Aoife O'Brien, award-winning podcast host and author of Thriving Talent, to unpack the essential ingredients for happy, high-performing workplaces. Drawing from her own journey and deep organizational research, Aoife lays out her “house” framework for thriving teams. Discover the building blocks of psychological safety, culture, drivers, and capabilities—plus practical ways leaders at any level can activate them. From feedback to autonomy to tackling imposter syndrome, this episode offers fresh, actionable guidance for leaders navigating today’s rapidly-evolving work landscape.

Whether you’re new to leadership or rethinking how you build teams, you’ll come away with memorable stories, research-backed tips, and validation that creating real psychological safety is always the starting line.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. Why psychological safety is the foundation (and how to build it)
2. How to spot the warning signs and triggers of a toxic culture
3. The “house” framework: 3 pillars of a thriving workplace (+ capstone)
4. The secret to extracting honest feedback—and using it for growth
5. How to balance autonomy and guidance for every team member
6. Practical advice for uncovering and leveraging your team’s strengths
7. Simple ways leaders can create more capacity (not just busywork)
8. Real answers on career paths, imposter syndrome, and the human side of AI

Timestamps:

00:00 – Aoife’s “house” model: psychological safety as the foundation

01:38 – How work expectations changed post-pandemic

02:30 – The 3 pillars: workplace culture, drivers, capabilities

04:46 – What piqued Aoife’s interest in toxic work environments

07:29 – Self-reflection & feedback for new leaders

11:44 – Why values alignment drives trust (& how leaders miss it)

15:42 – Triggers that create toxic cultures—microaggressions/bullying

17:46 – Role modeling vulnerability & building psychological safety

19:33 – Understanding employee drivers: autonomy, relatedness, competence

22:55 – How to avoid micromanagement AND under-management

25:31 – Why strengths matter more than fixing weaknesses

28:48 – Practical strategies for uncovering team member strengths

31:22 – Asking for—and receiving—feedback without defensiveness

35:57 – The “aha” moments from Aoife’s book: linking work to impact, creating capacity

40:34 – Lessons learned from guests: mattering, psychological safety tests

44:48 – Aoife’s assessment for leaders & organizations

46:30 – Where Aoife spends her time: keynotes & career development

48:23 – The 5 impostor identities

51:15 – Navigating the impact of AI on careers

52:20 – What leaders will do differently after reading Thriving Talent

54:14 – Final advice: curiosity, asking for feedback, embracing self-awareness

About Aoife O’Brien

Aoife O’Brien is an award-winning podcast host, author, and organizational behavior expert passionate about creating...