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...

Leaders aren’t just born—they’re built, and sometimes it takes stepping into the unknown to truly make a lasting impact.

In this heartening episode of the Learn-It-All™ podcast, Damon Lembi sits down with David Brint, innovative real estate entrepreneur and transformative former chairman of the Foundation Fighting Blindness. David shares the inspiring story behind his decades-long mission to cure blinding diseases—a journey that began with his own son’s diagnosis. Together, they dig into everything from scaling one of America’s top affordable housing companies to overhauling a nonprofit for long-term success—plus, the hard (and human) lessons of leadership, succession, and impact.

Whether you care about social entrepreneurship, resilient leadership, or the power of personal connection, you’ll walk away with real, actionable wisdom—and hope for a brighter world.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. How David turned personal adversity—his son’s diagnosis with a rare blinding disease—into a mission-driven leadership journey.
2. What it takes to grow a nationwide real estate company that applies social impact and economic development to affordable housing.
3. The nuts and bolts of taking over from a legendary founder and why nonprofit leadership needs an entrepreneurial mindset.
4. The secrets behind successful succession planning—how to step in, when to step down, and how to set the next leader up for success.
5. How building the right team and fostering a learning organization unlocks breakthrough growth—for businesses and nonprofits alike.

Timestamps

00:03 – The moment that inspired David’s mission: seeing hope firsthand

01:08 – Why David took the chairman role after 20 years with the Foundation Fighting Blindness

04:05 – From real estate consultant to affordable housing pioneer

06:03 – How the affordable housing industry evolved (and the role of tax credits)

10:32 – Neighborhood transformation: education, childcare, and the Purpose Built Communities model

13:12 – Designing award-winning housing for the visually impaired

14:04 – How vision (and partnership) fuels organizational growth

16:35 – Finding your niche and hiring world-class talent

19:20 – The #1 challenge scaling a mission-driven business

22:23 – How personal adversity led to founding a game-changing nonprofit

26:17 – Leading with transparency: balancing business and nonprofit commitment

27:13 – The entrepreneurial nonprofit: fundraising, venture funds, and risk

30:36 – How to win board buy-in and empower leadership teams

32:52 – Building a high-performing, learning-focused nonprofit (the hard choices)

35:09 – Making the mission tangible: why “science is our product”

38:09 – Raising record-setting funds—by making learning core to the culture

42:44 – Leading so people “don’t want to let you down”—and why passion is contagious

43:45 – The moment a child could truly “see”

47:30 – Succession planning: why knowing when to step down is as important as stepping up

50:01 – Letting go: giving your team ownership, in business and philanthropy

51:45 – How parenting a child with blindness changed David as a leader

About David Brint

David Brint is a transformative leader whose dual careers interweave purpose and business. As co-founder and principal of Brinshore Development, he’s grown the company into one of the top 50 affordable housing developers

Chaos isn't just survival—it's an opportunity.

In this electrifying episode of the Learn-It-All™ podcast, host Damon Lembi welcomes strategic advisor, U.S. Army veteran, and author Kevin Black for a game-changing deep dive on team chaos. Drawing from military history, behavioral science, and his groundbreaking book Strength and Chaos, Kevin reveals why chaos is misunderstood as merely negative—and how leaders can harness it for team growth. The duo unpacks the difference between destructive and constructive chaos, behavioral adaptability, and the “PAR” dynamic that determines whether your team thrives or crumbles under stress. Whether you run a startup or manage a legacy organization, this episode arms you with a practical playbook for navigating—rather than fearing—uncertainty.

From real stories of battlefield improvisation to boardroom breakdowns, you'll reclaim chaos as your competitive advantage.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. Why chaos isn’t always the enemy—and how rethinking it changes everything
2. The behavioral building blocks that determine your team’s reaction to chaos
3. Kevin’s six-level “control continuum” for diagnosing constructive vs. destructive chaos
4. How leaders can adapt their style to unlock discretionary effort and resilience
5. What disciplined initiative, mission command, and trust look like in high-performing teams
6. Hands-on exercises and tools to unify diverse personalities and create productive power
7. Why critical thinking beats AI shortcuts—even when uncertainty spikes
8. Case studies from military history and business that reveal the consequences of toxic leadership vs. adaptable command

Timestamps:

00:00 – Why chaos is personal—and not just a storm to avoid

00:32 – Meet Kevin Black: Army vet, advisor, author, and chaos expert

01:44 – What makes Strength and Chaos a first-of-its-kind book on chaos

02:55 – Defining chaos: eustress vs. distress, crisis vs. disorder

05:18 – “Mission” vs. “people” behaviors: key drivers in team settings

07:26 – Are CEOs born with ideal behaviors—or is adaptability the real superpower?

10:19 – How “behavioral drift” creates lopsided teams (and big business mistakes)

11:41 – Decoding the chaos dynamic: PAR (Perceive, Action, Reaction)

13:25 – The control continuum: anarchy, initiative, compliance, resistance

16:25 – Lessons from military teamwork: why decentralization is so hard

19:50 – Comparing battle plans: German blitz vs. U.S. invasion of Iraq

21:32 – How toxic leaders trigger malicious compliance and organizational sabotage

23:51 – Who should read Strength and Chaos—and how to use its frameworks

26:11 – Four levels of constructive chaos: unity, integration, mission command, trust

29:56 – Kevin’s “controlled chaos” war-game workshops for execs

33:06 – What if you’re naturally resistant to chaos and uncertainty?

34:58 – The leader’s real job: turn your team into the rock stars

35:52 – “DOING” acronym: measuring true team performance

38:51 – AI, critical thinking, and the future of adaptive teams

41:40 – The metaphysics of chaos: why it’s inevitable (and how to thrive)

44:44 – Kevin’s favorite leader who crushed chaos: Stonewall...

There’s always a way—and Ursula Mentjes can show you how.

On this episode of the Learn-It-All™ podcast, Damon welcomes Ursula Mentjes: five-time bestselling author, award-winning entrepreneur, and business growth expert. Together, they explore why “accidental salespeople” often outperform the pros, what really drives outsize business growth, and how to dismantle limiting beliefs that hold leaders back. Ursula opens up about her early days in sales, her leap from the corporate world to entrepreneurship, and the mindsets that helped her—and her clients—break through seven-figure ceilings. Plus, she shares actionable tips on hiring, delegation, and leveraging AI as a powerful growth tool.

Straight talk, real stories, and a toolbox of strategy-meets-mindset wisdom—this episode is for anyone ready to think bigger, grow faster, and prove there’s always a way.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. The surprising traits that make “accidental salespeople” outperform even industry veterans
2. Why limiting beliefs—not just markets or experience—are often the main barriers to growth, and how to break through them
3. The step-by-step process Ursula uses to help clients 2x (or 10x) their business
4. Why hiring for attitude and openness can be more powerful than hiring for a résumé
5. The essential role of delegation, trust, and empowering your team (plus how to avoid being the organizational bottleneck)
6. How AI can be leveraged for small business growth, and why leaders can’t afford to resist it

Timestamps:

00:00 – Ursula on “there’s always a way”

00:28 – Meet Ursula Mentjes and her journey from corporate to coaching

01:20 – Why accidental salespeople often succeed

02:15 – Ursula’s early sales lessons and reframing “the numbers game”

04:08 – Advice for finding (and hiring) great salespeople

07:04 – Top traits of high-performing salespeople

08:41 – Rejection and limiting beliefs in sales and leadership

09:09 – Ursula’s NLP techniques for overcoming limiting beliefs

13:15 – Making the jump from corporate to entrepreneurship

21:00 – Lessons in trust and delegation from running a $20M company

23:56 – The reality of launching her own business (and facing new comfort zones)

26:20 – Leadership style, micromanagement, and empowering others

27:39 – Who Ursula coaches and what her revenue model looks like

29:55 – Why mindset matters more than strategy, and the “who not how” approach

33:02 – Real client story: tripling growth with expanded vision and AI tools

35:54 – The most common reasons businesses get stuck

37:18 – Upgrading your team and vision to scale

38:19 – How to depersonalize growth decisions (“what is your business asking for?”)

38:58 – The spectrum of AI readiness—and why it matters

41:21 – Getting leaders excited about custom GPTs and real AI adoption

43:05 – Critical thinking as the ultimate future skill

44:21 – The power of coaching and who you should hire

47:07 – Ursula’s book rec: “One Great Goal” for clarity in action

48:42 – Ursula’s advice: There is always a way.

About Ursula Mentjes

Ursula Mentjes is a five-time bestselling author, award-winning entrepreneur, and sought-after business growth expert who specializes in helping leaders scale to multiple six and seven figures—while working less. A former top sales...

Learn as if you’ll live forever. Lead as if you’re always becoming.

In this energizing solo episode of the Learn-It-All™ podcast, host Damon Lembi takes us on a deep dive into his signature “Five C’s” framework—a roadmap for leaders who want to double down on their human advantage in an AI-driven world. Drawing on his own journey and packed with relatable stories, Damon reveals why humility opens the door to greatness and how Character, Curiosity, Courage, Confidence, and Community will set you apart as a truly “Learn-It-All” leader. From practical leadership tips to actionable exercises, this episode is a must-listen for anyone who wants to keep learning, support their team, and future-proof their skills as the workplace evolves.

Damon shares how his own struggles (and wins) in public speaking, podcasting, and leadership continue to shape his approach—and why the best leaders are humble, experiment freely, and create spaces where everyone can grow. Whether you’re embracing new AI tools or just trying to build better habits, you’ll come away with inspiring ideas and practical next steps for leading with more humanity in every environment.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. Why humility is the essential “ticket in” for true personal and professional growth
2. How strong character builds trust, especially in uncertain times
3. The power of curiosity to transform your learning and open unexpected doors
4. Why courage matters more than knowledge—and how taking risks creates real progress
5. How confidence is built through reps, reflection, and celebrating mistakes as learning opportunities
6. The value of giving back and building community to cement your own learning and uplift others

Timestamps:

00:00 – The Gandhi quote that grounds today’s leadership lesson

00:14 – The “human advantage” in an age of AI

00:32 – Introducing the Learn-It-All 5Cs framework

01:02 – Why humility is non-negotiable for leaders

01:45 – The first C: Character—integrity when no one’s watching

02:41 – The second C: Curiosity—how, and why, to never stop learning

03:29 – Is AI killing curiosity, or supercharging it? Damon’s take

04:01 – Courage: why learning requires stepping outside your comfort zone

05:06 – Real-life stories: Damon on podcasting, public speaking, and a teammate’s growth

06:10 – Building confidence through courage and regular practice

06:35 – The leader’s job: Growing your team’s skills and confidence

07:20 – Community: giving back to learn even more

08:22 – Recap: the five Cs and the foundation of humility

09:37 – How to encourage confident experimentation (especially with new AI tools)

10:04 – Staying present, slowing down, and appreciating what makes us human

10:35 – Free resources: Book and self-assessment to jumpstart your growth

10:47 – Call to action: Subscribe, rate, stay curious

About Damon Lembi

Damon Lembi is a 3x bestselling author, the host of The Learn-It-All™ Podcast, and CEO of Learnit – a live learning platform that has upskilled over 2 million people. Drawing from his prior baseball career, Damon brings an athlete’s perspective to leadership. Through his journey, he has gained invaluable insights into what helps organizations grow, how great leaders learn, and why learn-it-all companies outpace their competitors every time.

Resources...

From Solopreneur to $10 Billion: Mark Gleiberman on Focus, Family, & Resilient Growth

What does it take to scale a business from a single 38-unit apartment acquisition to a 33,000-unit, $10B empire? In this eye-opening episode of the Learn-It-All™ podcast, Damon sits down with Mark Gleiberman, Founder & CEO of MG Properties, who walks us through three decades of disciplined growth. Together, they break down the power of saying "no" to distractions, weathering economic storms, and building a culture where people thrive for decades.

Mark Gleiberman explains why MG Properties has stuck with one niche—existing multifamily apartments—and how that single-minded focus fueled their resilience through multiple market cycles. You’ll hear the inside story of scaling a team, navigating family dynamics in leadership, and why great organizations are built on values as much as they are on strategy. It’s a masterclass in entrepreneurship, disciplined growth, and the art of building businesses that last.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. Why staying laser-focused on one niche can be your ultimate strategic advantage
2. Mark Gleiberman shares how MG Properties consistently avoided the “shiny object” trap, resisting pressure to branch into other asset classes and staying disciplined—even as the company exploded in size.
3. The hidden upside of tough markets (and how “safe” doesn’t mean slow)
4. Gain insight into how Mark weathered the S&L crisis, the Great Financial Crisis, and major interest rate hikes—spotlighting the long-term investor mindset and tactical approaches that kept MG thriving.
5. How to scale company culture (and keep talent for decades)
6. Learn how MG Properties cultivates DRIVE—Dedication, Respect, Integrity, Value, Empathy—and why leadership starts with a walk in your employees' shoes.
7. Secrets to effective succession planning and thriving family business dynamics
8. Get actionable advice on bringing the next generation into leadership, building credibility, and ensuring smooth collaboration—at work and at the dinner table.
9. How philanthropy strengthens teams and community impact
10. Discover how MG Properties weaves giving back into their day-to-day, from CASA advocacy to supporting the homeless—and why it fuels retention and company pride.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Why disciplined focus beats chasing the next big thing

02:32 – From 38 units to $10B: MG Properties’ founding story

05:05 – Learning every side of the business—by doing it all firsthand

07:04 – Empathy in leadership: lessons from property management

08:12 – Long-term investing and “the best way to get rich slow”

10:03 – The 1031 Exchange: building generational wealth (tax efficiently)

12:00 – What truly differentiates MG Properties

15:50 – Surviving downturns: 2008 and the recent rate hikes

18:47 – Bringing in institutional capital & the evolution of partnerships

21:08 – The power (and tests) of sticking to your strategy

22:36 – When (and how) to say no to new markets—or new asset classes

24:03 – MG’s strategy