Game Changers with Molly Fletcher is our podcast designed to help you maximize your influence and unleash your potential. Each episode, we take you behind the scenes with peak performers to learn what makes them tick and discover how you can apply their lessons to your life. Join Molly each week to hear from her special guests— top athletes and coaches, transformative CEOs, brilliant thought leaders, and entrepreneurs and trailblazers from around the world. Subscribe now on iTunes or Google Play.

Recent Episodes

Susan Cain

Episode 83- Susan Cain on Unlocking the Power of Introverts

Susan Cain got everyone talking about the power of introverts with Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking, which has been on the New York Times bestseller list for seven consecutive years. Her TED Talk has been viewed more than 30 million times and was named by Bill Gates one of his favorite talks. Introverts make up an estimated 50% of the population, but we dramatically undervalue introverts and in doing so, miss out on their immense talents. On this episode, Susan shares the biggest misconceptions about introverts, why we need more introverted leaders, and the shift she’s seen since releasing Quiet in 2012.

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“Introversion is about: “Where do you draw your energy?”

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Show Notes

  • What inspired Susan’s book Quiet (2:08)
  • How to define introversion and how it differs from shyness (4:20)
  • Half of the world’s population is introverted (5:47)
  • How to determine whether you are an introvert or an extrovert (6:08)
  • The role of nature vs. nature in your preference (7:07)
  • How fixed a trait is introversion / extroversion? (8:15)
  • Why she changed careers from Wall Street lawyer (10:40)
  • Why introverts make powerful negotiators (12:24)
  • How the conversation has shifted since Quiet was released in 2012 (16:02)
  • Why companies should re-think open-office and meeting culture (17:31)
  • The value in chunking time to get things done (19:03)
  • How introverts and extroverts can work better together (19:38)
  • Tips to harness the talents of introverts on your team (21:35)
  • The creative process requires solitude (23:15)
  • The myth of charismatic leadership (24:39)
  • How introvert – extrovert relationships can be complementary (26:03)
  • How to engage intentionally on social media (28:18)
  • Managing your energy as an introvert (29:40)

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Simon Sinek

Episode 82- Simon Sinek on How to Lead with an Infinite Mindset

Simon Sinek has transformed the way we think about work. His TED Talk is the second most popular of all time and his book, Start With Why, sparked a movement to help people, teams and organizations discover their why. In his new book, The Infinite Game, Simon shares a bold new framework for leadership. Many organizations struggle because their leaders play with a finite mindset in a game that has no end. In our conversation, Simon shares why leaders who embrace an infinite mindset build stronger, more innovative, and more resilient teams.

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“Be the leader you wish you had.”

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Show Notes

  • How falling out of love with his work inspired Simon to discover his why and help others to do the same (1:45)
  • An infinite mindset embraces uncertainty and sees opportunity in the unknown (4:42)
  • The difference between finite and infinite games (5:54)
  • Common indicators of a finite mindset (8:57)
  • The five ways to embrace an infinite mindset (11:10)
  • The value of a worthy rival and the problem with fixating on our competition (11:32)
  • The consequences of leading with a finite mindset: the decline of trust, cooperation and innovation (16:13)
  • The behaviors of a leader with an infinite mindset (18:22)
  • Make your goals in the context of something larger (20:34)
  • Be the leader you wish you had (26:00)
  • The relationship between trust and performance (27:30)
  • If you don’t blow it up, someone else will (30:14)
  • How to embrace an infinite mindset through curiosity (34:09)
  • The 2-3 mindset shifts to make (36:52)

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Kelly McGonigal

Episode 81- Kelly McGonigal on How to Make Stress Your Friend

Most people try to avoid stress. But what if changing how you think about stress could actually make you happier, healthier, and better able to reach your goals? Kelly McGonigal’s TED Talk, “How to make stress your friend” is one of the most viewed TED talks with over 20 million views. In her book, The Upside of Stress, Kelly shares the hidden benefits of stress and how you can make it a catalyst in your own life. In this episode, Kelly explains why trying to avoid stress is counterproductive and why instead, you should focus on three mindset resets to re-frame how you view stress.

“How you think about stress changes the way that your body and brain respond to stress.”

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Show Notes

  • Why you should stop trying to avoid stress (1:59)
  • The stress mindset effect: how to re-frame how you think about stress (3:23)
  • The definition of stress (6:11)
  • Tactics to change the way you think about stress (6:50)
  • The power of mindset resets in managing stress (8:30)
  • How stress drives human connection (10:26)
  • Why trying to avoid stress you can’t control is dangerous for your health (12:26)
  • How to help your kids manage stress (15:02)
  • The biology of resilience (18:15)
  • The three mindset resets for performance under pressure (20:31)
  • Why companies should help people understand meaningful stress instead of offering stress reduction programs (23:24)
  • Kelly’s new book- The Joy of Movement (26:14)
  • Why exercise and movement are so critical to mental health, happiness, and social connection (27:46)
  • How hope molecules are produced through movement (30:37)

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Marc Randolph, Netflix

Episode 80- Marc Randolph on Starting Netflix and the Evolution of Ideas

Now with over 150 million subscribers, Netflix is a tech giant, but it began as a scrappy startup with naysayers and obstacles at every turn. Netflix co-founder and former CEO Marc Randolph shares the untold story of how Netflix went from concept to company in his new book, “That Will Never Work.” We talk about why some great ideas stick and others don’t, why there’s no formula for innovation, and what happens when your little idea becomes a multi-billion-dollar business.

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“Culture is not what you say… culture is what you do.”

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Show Notes

  • Why he wrote his book, That Will Never Work (1:45)
  • There is no formula for innovation (3:25)
  • The birth of Netflix (5:55)
  • Advice on how to pitch your idea and make the ask (11:29)
  • Building the culture at Netflix (16:03)
  • Radical candor in action at Netflix (22:06)
  • Marc’s negotiation advice (24:48)
  • Why Netflix didn’t sell to Amazon early on (26:55)
  • The importance of singular focus as an early stage company (31:36)
  • As success came, the need to shift from generalists to specialists (33:23)
  • Running the company side-by-side with co-founder Reed Hastings (34:23)
  • Making the decision to leave Netflix (36:59)
  • How he balanced work and family in the startup environment (39:15)
  • Randolph’s Rules for Success (41:36)

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Holly Rowe / ESPN

Episode 79- ESPN’s Holly Rowe on Finding Joy in Daily Moments

Holly Rowe has made a name for herself as one of ESPN’s most versatile commentators in her 20-year career. She covers college football, college basketball, softball and multiple other sports for the network. In 2015, Holly was diagnosed with metastatic melanoma– a rare, fast-spreading form of skin cancer. Once she went public with her diagnosis and treatment, Holly found a cheering section of her own. On this episode, Holly shares how her diagnosis shifted her perspective and focused her on the small moments of joy in each day. We also talk about her unique career journey and what she’s learned from interviewing the best athletes and coaches in the world.

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“I just decided that I was going to focus on my little small joyful moments each day instead of the scary part.”

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Show Notes

  • How her childhood growing up in Utah shaped who she is today (1:51)
  • The many odd jobs Holly took to work her way through college (3:17)
  • How she juggled motherhood and her career early on (6:04)
  • How going public with her cancer diagnosis helped Holly realize her value (8:54)
  • How social media has changed the media landscape (10:35)
  • The career advice she got as an intern that stuck with her (12:46)
  • Why she keeps a “joy journal” (16:25)
  • Shifting from feeling fear to choosing joy (20:21)
  • Dealing with moments of vulnerability (23:09)
  • What’s she’s learned from interviewing the best athletes and coaches in the world (25:36)
  • The lessons she learned from legendary coaches Pat Summitt and Geno Auriemma (28:06)
  • The 3 C’s of high performers: competitiveness, caring about the success of others, and communication (30:32)
  • How she builds trust to be able to connect (32:17)
  • Managing her energy (34:23)
  • The advice she would give her younger self (38:28)

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David Fajgenbaum

Episode 78- David Fajgenbaum on What I Learned About Living from Nearly Dying

Imagine facing a life-threatening disease with no known cure. Now imagine that you are a physician- and the person facing the disease is you. That’s the story David Fajgenbaum tells in his memoir, Chasing My Cure: A Doctor’s Race To Turn Hope Into Action. David battles Castleman disease, a rare disease involving the immune system attacking and shutting down vital organs. Faced with lengthy hospitalizations and multiple near-death relapses, David realized that the best person to find a cure might be himself. In our conversation, David shares what it means to turn hope into action and why sometimes you have to create your own silver linings.

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“We shouldn’t just look for silver linings; we should create silver linings.”

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Show Notes

  • How his mom’s battle with brain cancer inspired him to study to become a physician (1:48)
  • The realization that something wasn’t right (2:49)
  • David’s first near-death experience and searching for a diagnosis (4:30)
  • What is Castleman Disease? (5:20)
  • The unexpected gift of humor in tough times (6:55)
  • How his perspective shifted going from physician to patient (9:40)
  • His guiding principle: “Think it. Do it.” (11:46)
  • We are all living life in overtime (14:42)
  • What’s given him strength to get through five relapses (17:54)
  • The search to find his own cure (21:11)
  • How his understanding of love changed through his relationship with his now-wife Caitlin (25:46)
  • The power in creating your own silver linings (29:07)
  • Fear can paralyze; it can also focus. (32:30)
  • How we should think differently about innovation (35:30)
  • What David has learned about living from nearly dying (38:19)

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Charles Duhigg

Episode 77- Charles Duhigg on How to Change Your Habits

More than 40% of what you do every day is habit. Habits are the foundation for how you live your life and do your work. In his New York Times bestseller, The Power of Habit, Charles Duhigg explores the science of habits. Why do they exist and how can you change them? If you have the power to change your habits, you have the power to change your life. And the key to changing your habits is understanding the science of how they work. On this episode, Charles shares a framework to help you create new habits and break your bad habits.

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“There are good and bad habits. The key is- once you’re able to recognize them and understand what the triggers, cues and rewards are- then you have more power in influencing them.”

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Show Notes

  • The habit loop: cue, routine, reward (1:57)
  • The science of habit formation (2:25)
  • The definition of a habit (3:41)
  • An example of cue-routine-reward loop in habit formation (4:09)
  • The two steps to change a bad habit (6:45)
  • How to sustain habit change over time (9:00)
  • The power of keystone habits inside of organizations (11:46)
  • The difference between busy and being productive (13:36)
  • Why the most productive people have short to-do lists (14:50)
  • The importance of locus of control in motivation (16:10)
  • How To! With Charles Duhigg podcast (17:34)
  • Why exercise is a powerful keystone habit (19:29)

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Brian Lord

Episode 76- Brian Lord on How To Get Paid To Speak

You have a message you want to share. The problem is, you don’t know how to position yourself and create a platform to share it. How can you get booked as a speaker? Brian Lord is a 24-year veteran of the booking industry with more than $100 million in bookings. He’s booked everyone from presidents to superstar athletes to leading CEOs. On this episode, Brian shares everything you need to know about the speaking industry, whether you are a rookie or a veteran speaker. We talk about where to find the right clients, how to determine your speaking fee, and the three things every speaker must have to get booked.

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“The overall thing that you want to do as a speaker is change people.”

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Show Notes

  • A snapshot of the speaking industry (2:09)
  • Who books speakers? (3:59)
  • How Brian started booking talent as a college student out of his dorm room (6:18)
  • What video content you need to get from every speaking engagement you do (8:54)
  • How to get the right testimonials (12:53)
  • How to frame up your speaker bio to get results (15:10)
  • How to determine your speaking fee (17:16)
  • How to get referrals (21:55)
  • What meeting planners look for in a speaker (26:40)
  • How to build relationships with speaker bureaus (29:52)
  • What role should on stage visuals like Power Point play in your presentation (38:02)
  • The difference between the best speakers and everyone else (39:38)
  • The biggest mistakes speakers make (41:10)

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Cal Newport

Episode 75- Cal Newport on 3 Steps to Declutter Your Digital Life

In his bestselling books Deep Work and Digital Minimalism, Cal Newport explores our evolving and complicated relationship with technology. Technology has transformed the way we work and live- but at what cost? In a world defined by electronic busyness, we no longer value deep work. And in our personal lives, we have become addicted to our devices at the expense of human connection. On this episode, Cal walks us through a digital detox, an intentional decluttering process that thousands of people have used to simplify their lives. Learn how to make technology work for you— not the other way around.

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“The average worker spends about 6 minutes between inbox or Slack checks.”

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 Show Notes

  • What sparked Cal’s interest in our evolving relationship with technology (1:48)
  • The definition of deep work (3:37)
  • Understanding the difference between shallow and deep work (4:20)
  • How context shifting hurts our work (5:57)
  • How people are confusing shallow work for productivity (6:38)
  • The average worker checks email or Slack every 5-6 minutes (8:55)
  • Why you should schedule deep work on your calendar (11:24)
  • How leaders can encourage deep work (13:00)
  • Defining digital minimalism (15:31)
  • Why Cal has never had a social media account (17:06)
  • How technology companies reengineered how we use our phones by creating social approval indicators (18:27)
  • How to discover the joy of missing out (23:03)
  • The 3-step digital declutter process (25:47)
  • Setting guidelines for technology use at work (27:47)
  • The habits that Cal has found powerful in his own life (29:30)
  • Two ways to approach technology and social media as a parent (33:24)

 

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Ian Morgan Cron

Episode 74- Ian Cron on The 9 Enneagram Personality Types

What is the first step to becoming a better leader? Self-awareness. Ian Cron, author of The Road Back To You, is an expert on the Enneagram and host of the popular podcast, Typology. Ian uses the Enneagram personality-typing assessment as a tool to help leaders foster self-awareness. On this episode, we dig into the nine personality types and the do’s and don’ts for leading each type. If you are interested in taking the Enneagram assessment, click here.

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“The competency that people need now more than ever is self-awareness.”

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Show Notes

  • How to use the Enneagram- and how not to use it (1:52)
  • Using the Enneagram as a parent (6:04)
  • How you can explore your Enneagram type (7:48)
  • Understanding your Enneagram type (11:33)
  • Healthy, average, and unhealthy ranges within your type (13:55)
  • The underlying motivations of the 9 types (18:39)
  • Type 1: The Perfectionist (20:10)
  • Type 2: The Helper (21:26)
  • Type 3: The Performer (22:40)
  • Type 4: The Romantic (23:55)
  • Type 5: The Investigator (24:44)
  • Type 6: The Loyalist (26:14)
  • Type 7: The Enthusiast (30:00)
  • Type 8: The Challenger (31:34)
  • Type 9: The Peacemaker (37:32)
  • Leadership starts with self-awareness (39:35)
  • How to use the Enneagram within your team (41:27)
  • The motivators behind each type (42:51)
  • Ian’s podcast Typology (45:49)

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