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, Google Play, Stitcher, or Spotify.

Recent Episodes

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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Elena Delle Donne (NBAE/Getty Images)

Episode 73- Elena Delle Donne on Owning Your Happiness

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

“I had to step away from it to figure out who I was outside of the game.”

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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) 

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Maria Taylor

Episode 72- ESPN’s Maria Taylor on How to Land Your Dream Job

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

“Be so great that no one can take you out of the game.”

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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)

 

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Kim Scott

Episode 71- Kim Scott on How To Be a Better Boss with Radical Candor

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.

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“Great leaders know how to show they care personally at the same time that they challenge directly.”

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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)

 

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John O'Leary

Episode 70- John O’Leary on How to Stay Positive in Tough Times

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.

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“I wasn’t going to die anymore, but there was no guarantee I was going to LIVE.”

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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)

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David Epstein

Episode 69- David Epstein on Why Generalists Thrive in a Specialized World

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

“Sometimes the things that cause the quickest short-term improvement can undermine long-term development.”

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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) 

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