
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

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.
Follow Ian: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Website
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)
Resources / People Mentioned
- The Enneagram
- iEQ9– take the assessment
- Typology podcast
- The Road Back To You by Ian Morgan Cron
- The Soul of An Octopus by Sy Montgomery
- Finding Meaning in the Second Half of Life by James Hollis
- The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky
- Leo Tolstoy, author
- Desmond Tutu
- Yo-Yo Ma, musician
Recommended For You
Did you enjoy this episode? Then listen to:
- Shawn Askinosie on How to Find Your Calling
- Bob Goff on The Transformative Power of Love
- Adam Grant on Finding Motivation and Meaning At Work
Thanks for checking out Game Changers with Molly Fletcher. Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app and leave a rating or review!

Before she became the face of women’s basketball, Elena Delle Donne quit the sport entirely. Burned out and unsure of herself, Elena had to walk away to rediscover her joy and write her own story. Today, Elena is the 2019 WNBA MVP and a 6x WNBA All-Star. But Elena’s story has always been bigger than basketball. Her biggest motivation is her sister Lizzie, who was born deaf and blind with cerebral palsy and autism. On this episode, Elena talks about her journey of self-discovery, how she stays mentally tough, and the two biggest keys to her success.
Follow Elena: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Website
Show Notes
- Why Elena walked away from basketball as the #1 recruit in the country (2:00)
- Rediscovering her love for the game (3:14)
- What went into the decision to return to basketball (4:22)
- Elena talks about her biggest motivation- her sister Lizzie (5:55)
- Her leadership style on the Washington Mystics (7:18)
- How she strengthens her mental game (9:00)
- The importance of separating from what you do (10:12)
- How she keeps focused amid distractions (12:05)
- Embracing a learner’s mentality (13:25)
- Learning to be comfortable and confident in who she is (15:00)
- What she envisions for her life post-basketball career (16:28)
- The two biggest keys to Elena’s success (17:43)
- Her collab with Nike on the Air Zoom UNVRS (18:32)
Resources / People Mentioned
- WNBA
- Washington Mystics
- NBA Stars welcome Elena Delle Donne to 50-40-90 club
- Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel: Elena Delle Donne
- Vogue: Meet Elena Delle Donne
- University of Connecticut women’s basketball
- University of Delaware women’s basketball
- University of Delaware volleyball
- Lizzie by Elena Delle Donne
- Sue Bird, WNBA
- USA Basketball
- Mike Thibault, Washington Mystics coach
- Stu Singer, performance psychologist
- Nike unveils the Air Zoom UNVRS
- Megan Rapinoe, US Soccer
- Tamika Catchings, WNBA
Recommended For You
Did you enjoy this episode? Then listen to:
- Caril Lloyd on Outworking the Competition
- Jon Dorenbos on Life is Magic: A Story of Resilience, Faith and Forgiveness
- ESPN’s Maria Taylor on How to Land Your Dream Job
Thanks for checking out Game Changers with Molly Fletcher. Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app and leave a rating or review!

From the college football sidelines to the basketball court and beyond, Maria Taylor has all your sports coverage for ESPN. Maria has quickly become a star broadcaster known for her versatility and drive. She is a co-host on College GameDay, sideline reporter for ABC’s Saturday Night Football, and is expected to be added to NBA Countdown this season. Passionate about paying it forward, Maria is the co-founder of The Winning Edge Leadership Academy which helps young women and minorities get opportunities in the sports industry. On today’s episode, we talk about the hustle it required to break into the industry, the lessons in failing fast, and how she got comfortable using her voice.
Follow Maria: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Website
Show Notes
- How she broke into the sports industry (2:20)
- The power of saying yes (4:34)
- Pushing through doubt and discomfort early in her career (7:28)
- Be so good they can’t take you out of the game (9:42)
- How she builds trust with high-level coaches and athletes (11:13)
- The life lesson she learned from Nick Saban (13:04)
- How she prepares (15:54)
- How she manages her energy to avoid burnout (17:56)
- Learning to say no and don’t try to prove anything (19:33)
- The on-air mistake at the Rose Bowl she had to learn from (21:18)
- How being a two-sport student-athlete prepared her for her career (23:23)
- How she has navigated being a woman in a male-dominated industry (24:54)
- The advice she gives young women on pulling your seat up to the table (25:55)
- Why she started the Winning Edge Leadership Academy (28:58)
Resources / People Mentioned
- The Winning Edge Leadership Academy
- College GameDay
- Saturday Night Football
- NBA Countdown
- University of Georgia women’s basketball
- University of Georgia volleyball
- FOX Sports South
- Comcast / Charter Sports Southeast
- Matt Millen, NFL executive and broadcaster
- Dan Mullen, University of Florida football coach
- Nick Saban, Alabama football coach
- Kobe Bryant, NBA
- Serena Williams, tennis
- Oprah’s SuperSoul Conversations
- Joyce Meyer
- Steven Furtick, Elevation Church
- 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship
- The Rose Bowl
- David Pollack, football player
- WME, agency
- SpringHill Entertainment
- LeBron James, NBA
- Dwayne Johnson, actor
- Megan Rapinoe
- Andy Landers, basketball coach
- Robin Roberts, media personality
Recommended For You
Did you enjoy this episode? Then listen to:
- Caril Lloyd on Outworking the Competition
- Dabo Swinney on Leading from the Heart
- Inky Johnson on Overcoming Adversity
Thanks for checking out Game Changers with Molly Fletcher. Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app and leave a rating or review!

Every leader has to know how to get, give and encourage feedback at work. Former Google and Apple executive Kim Scott’s book, Radical Candor: Be a Kick Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity, is a New York Times bestseller and inspired a management revolution. Radical candor is a simple idea: to be a good boss, you have to care personally and challenge directly. On this episode, we talk about how to create a culture of feedback, build a great team, and get results. This simple framework will guide every conversation you have and help you build better relationships.
Follow Kim: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Website
Show Notes
- Radical Candor = Care Personally + Challenge Directly (1:46)
- The three responsibilities of a boss: create a culture of feedback; build a great team; get results (2:58)
- The difference between caring personally and getting personal (3:43)
- The four quadrants: radical candor, obnoxious aggression, manipulative insincerity, and ruinous empathy (6:53)
- The difference between the culture at Google and Apple (11:00)
- The guidance Sheryl Sandberg gave Kim that illustrates radical candor (15:30)
- The four steps to solicit feedback (27:01)
- How to handle feedback that you disagree with (33:12)
- Why the best feedback is usually impromptu and immediate (34:46)
- How leaders can create trust in moments of guidance (37:55)
- The difference between rockstar and superstar mode and why we undervalue rockstars (40:06)
- The difference between talent management and growth management and the problem with labeling people as low or high potential (42:05)
- Tips to start implementing radical candor (47:50)
Resources / People Mentioned
- Radical Candor: Be A Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity by Kim Scott
- Radical candor framework
- Steve Jobs, Apple co-founder
- Steve Jobs: The Lost Interview
- Triumph of the Nerds
- Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook
- Eric Schmidt, former CEO of Google
- Christa Quarles, CEO of OpenTable
- Driven to Distraction by Edward Hallowell and John Ratey
- Middlemarch by George Eliot
- Larry Page, co-founder of Google
- Elon Musk, co-founder and CEO of Tesla
Recommended For You
Did you enjoy this episode? Then listen to:
- Patty McCord on How Netflix Built a Culture of Freedom and Responsibility
- Marcus Buckingham on Nine Lies About Work
- Celeste Headlee on Ways to Have a Better Conversation
Thanks for checking out Game Changers with Molly Fletcher. Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app and leave a rating or review!

At age 9, John O’Leary suffered burns to 100% of his body after a gasoline explosion in his family home. He was given a 1% chance to live. John not only survived, he made it his life’s mission to inspire others. Today as an author and keynote speaker, John shares the lessons he learned through his experience and celebrates the everyday heroes who stepped into his life to help him on his journey. On this episode, we talk about tackling challenges with joy, owning your story, and living with intention.
Follow John: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Website
Show Notes
- The accident that changed John’s life at age 9 (1:46)
- The hard truth his mother gave him in the hospital (4:15)
- Choosing joy and gratitude in moments of adversity (8:13)
- The everyday heroes that changed John’s life (10:59)
- How he masked his reality for years before making a change (17:28)
- How his parents’ book forced him to confront and then take ownership of his story (20:45)
- How to say yes to life (22:48)
- How to lean into adversity with perspective (26:22)
- Leading with brokenness (36:30)
Resources / People Mentioned
- John O’Leary, speaker
- On Fire: The 7 Choices to Ignite a Radically Inspired Life by John O’Leary
- Jack Buck, sportscaster
- Overwhelming Odds by Susan and Dennis O’Leary
- The Wounded Healer by Henri Nouwen
- The Return of the Prodigal Son by Henri Nouwen
Recommended For You
Did you enjoy this episode? Then listen to:
- Inky Johnson on Overcoming Adversity
- Bob Goff on the Transformative Power of Love
- Jon Dorenbos on Life Is Magic- A Story of Resilience, Faith and Forgiveness
Thanks for checking out Game Changers with Molly Fletcher. Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app and leave a rating or review!

Our culture today is all about getting a head start. Start early, focus intensely and rack up as many hours of deliberate practice as you can. But what if that’s actually not the best path to success? In his new book Range, author David Epstein argues going broad—not narrow—is the best route to success. On this episode, we talk about the dangers of early specialization, the value of breadth of experience, and how this all applies to the way you think about your career, your hobbies, and even the way you parent.
Follow David: Twitter | Website
Show Notes
- Early specialization vs. generalist: what’s the most common pathway to success? (1:32)
- The Tiger vs. Roger effect (3:38)
- How David’s own generalist background led to a career as a sports science and investigative writer at Sports Illustrated (7:16)
- The importance of match quality in navigating your career choices (9:26)
- LinkedIn research: the best predictor of who will become an executive (12:20)
- What we’re getting wrong about grit (14:42)
- The dangers of early specialization (21:26)
- The importance of breadth of experience (25:20)
- Why generalists thrive in changing and uncertain environments (29:05)
- Why leaders should drive accountability towards both outcome and process (34:23)
Resources / People Mentioned
- Range by David Epstein
- The Sports Gene by David Epstein
- Malcolm Gladwell, author
- The 10,000 hours rule
- Deliberate practice
- MIT Sports Sloan Analytics Conference
- A Conversation with David Epstein and Malcolm Gladwell
- David Epstein, Sports Illustrated
- Daniel Pink, author
- Angela Duckworth, author
- Tiger Woods, golfer
- Roger Federer, tennis player
- Mozart, composer
- Rex Geveden, CEO of BWX Technologies
- War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
- Expert Political Judgment by Philip Tetlock
- Loonshots by Safi Bahcall
- Alex Rodriguez, baseball player
- Selena Roberts, author and sportswriter
- This American Life
- The DIY Scientist, the Olympian, and the Mutated Gene
Recommended For You
Did you enjoy this episode? Then listen to:
- Daniel Pink on The Science of Perfect Timing
- Angela Duckworth on Why Gritty People Are More Successful
- Adam Grant on Finding Motivation and Meaning at Work
Thanks for checking out Game Changers with Molly Fletcher. Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app and leave a rating or review!

Navigating change is hard, particularly inside of organizations. Most people are resistant and afraid. Yet we all have to confront change- personally and professionally- and the pace of change is faster than ever. Beth Comstock led companies like NBC and GE through periods of transformational change. Her book, Imagine It Forward, encourages people to become change makers by leading with imagination. In this episode, we talk about embracing smart risks, challenging convention, and reinventing what’s possible.
Follow Beth: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Show Notes
- You have to give yourself permission to change (1:36)
- The imagination gap (2:04)
- How to deal with change that is forced on us (3:17)
- Build on small steps to move forward (8:34)
- The painful personal transformation that helped Beth learn to embrace change (9:06)
- The advice she would give leaders who are trying to lead change inside of their organizations (11:18)
- Using humility, vision and teamwork to overcome fear (12:24)
- How her transition from NBC to GE sparked her creativity (16:04)
- How she led the culture transformation at GE by bringing an outsider mentality (18:38)
- Why you should invite conflict to spur innovation (22:20)
- How story mobilizes people around change (26:10)
- How to help people fail forward (27:24)
- How she became a CMO with no marketing experience (33:20)
- “Take the job no one else wants.” (36:01)
- The business case for diverse teams (37:49)
- Advice for leaders on how to manage introverts (39:06)
- What she wishes she knew earlier in her career (41:49)
Resources / People Mentioned
- Imagine It Forward by Beth Comstock
- Ted Turner, media mogul
- Jeff Immelt, former CEO of GE
- Mark Parker, CEO of Nike
- Phil Knight, co-founder of Nike
- Bill Bowerman, co-founder of Nike
- Quiet by Susan Cain
- The Artist’s Way by Julie Cameron
- The Tao of Physics by Fritjof Capra
- Midnight Children by Salman Rushdie
- The Creative Habit by Twyla Tharp
- Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors
- Serena Williams, athlete
Recommended For You
Did you enjoy this episode? Then listen to:
- Ron Clark on Motivating Our Teams to Effect Change
- Patty McCord on How Netflix Built a Culture of Freedom and Responsibility
- Celeste Headlee on Ways to Have a Better Conversation
Thanks for checking out Game Changers with Molly Fletcher. Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app and leave a rating or review!

Why would a successful criminal defense attorney leave a lucrative career to start a chocolate company? That’s the incredible story of Shawn Askinosie, founder of the award-winning Askinosie Chocolate. In his book Meaningful Work, Shawn shares his insights into doing work with heart and creating a business with a soul. Named one of the 25 best small companies in America by Forbes, Askinosie Chocolate sources 100% of their beans directly from farmers and shares profits with them. On this episode, Shawn shares how to find your calling, what to consider when contemplating a career move, and why businesses thrive when work is meaningful.
Follow Shawn: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Website
Show Notes
- Why he decided to leave his career as a successful criminal defense lawyer to start a chocolate company (2:08)
- How he discovered his calling (3:50)
- The bridge between idea, action and plan (5:30)
- Shawn’s advice for people who want to transition in their careers (6:18)
- How to find meaning in your current work (8:45)
- How Shawn was able to transfer his skills to a new career (11:33)
- The biggest challenges in starting his own business (15:50)
- What makes Askinosie Chocolate different (18:16)
- The problem with making philanthropy and charity a silo within a company (19:16)
- 2/3 of people at work are disengaged (21:46)
- The problem with the one-for-one business model for giving (26:02)
- The difference between direct trade and fair trade (28:40)
- The impact Askinosie Chocolate has made on the communities they work in (32:40)
- The value of reverse scale: “get better at staying small” (34:49)
- The difference between being and doing (37:56)
- The role faith played in Shawn’s journey (41:05)
Resources / People Mentioned
- Meaningful Work by Shawn Askinosie
- Askinosie Chocolate
- America’s Best Small Companies (Forbes)
- Assumption Abbey
- Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom
- Becoming Human by Jean Vanier
Recommended For You
Did you enjoy this episode? Then listen to:
- Adam Grant on Finding Motivation and Meaning at Work
- Bob Goff on The Transformative Power of Love
- Jenn Lim on Delivering Happiness at Work
Thanks for checking out Game Changers with Molly Fletcher. Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app and leave a rating or review!

Carli Lloyd is one of the most accomplished soccer players in the world. She’s a three-time Olympian, two-time gold medalist, and two-time FIFA Player of the Year. This summer, Carli co-captains Team USA in her fourth World Cup. But her journey to the top of the soccer world was hardly conventional. At one point, Carli almost quit the sport. On this episode, we dig into how she rediscovered her passion and developed the work ethic, competitiveness, and mental toughness that have defined her career since.
Follow Carli: Twitter| Facebook | Instagram | Website
Show Notes
- When Nobody Was Watching by Carli Lloyd
- Carli Lloyd put on the greatest World Cup final performance ever
- Carli Lloyd Wins FIFA Player of the Year
- Sky Blue FC (NWSL)
- Medford Strikers Soccer Club
- Rutgers University women’s soccer
- Chris Petrucelli, soccer coach
- James Galanis, soccer coach / trainer
- Michael Jordan, NBA
- Bruce Lee, martial arts
- Muhammad Ali, boxing
- Tom Brady, NFL
- John F. Kennedy
- Justin Timberlake
Resources / People Mentioned
- The moment Carli almost quit soccer after being cut from the U21 team (2:05)
- How working with James Galanis changed the trajectory of Carli’s career (4:47)
- How she shifted her mindset and started to believe in herself (9:20)
- How changing her work ethic re-built her confidence (11:35)
- Carli’s “Empty the Tank” mentality (13:59)
- Why she loves the big moment (15:43)
- The missed penalty kick in the 2011 World Cup Final that changed her preparation (18:33)
- How Carli works on her mental toughness (22:00)
- “Be better than you were the day before.” (24:07)
- The three characteristics of a great teammate (25:16)
- How she manages her mental energy (28:53)
- How playing sports shaped her as a person (31:10)
- Carli’s advice to parents of young athletes (32:57)
- Carli’s advice to young girls (35:10)
- What she wants her legacy to be (35:49)
Recommended For You
Did you enjoy this episode? Then listen to:
- Jon Dorenbos on Life is Magic- A Story of Resilience, Faith and Forgiveness
- Herm Edwards on You Play to Win the Game
- John Smoltz on Getting Outside Your Comfort Zone
Thanks for checking out Game Changers with Molly Fletcher. Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app and leave a rating or review!