Right-side Up Leadership Podcast

As we close out the year, we’re highlighting several of our most listened-to conversations—episodes that continue to shape leaders long after they air. Today’s conversation between Alan Briggs and Jimmy Rollins is one of those episodes: timeless and timely. Jimmy brings honesty, clarity, and courage as he talks about race, unity, culture, marriage, and the everyday leadership choices that build trust. This is a practical and grounded guide for leaders who want to lead with compassion, stay curious in hard conversations, and create cultures where people feel seen and valued. In this episode, you’ll learn: How to have “family conversations” around race with honesty and safety Why unity is not uniformity—and what real unity requires How to ask better questions and lead with curiosity, not fear Practical language that diffuses tension and builds trust What healthy leaders must confront in themselves to lead others well Jimmy’s personal story of pain, growth, marriage restoration, and calling Healthy

If you feel frustrated, disappointed, or stuck right now, you’re not broken – you’re human. The real question isn’t “What’s wrong with me?” It’s “What needs to change, and how do I actually change it?” In this solo episode, Alan unpacks a simple but powerful idea: only the hungry change. You can’t force your kids to change, your team to change, or your friends to change. You can barely force yourself to change. But when hunger meets a clear process, transformation becomes possible. Alan walks through a practical framework he calls the Wheel of Transformation – moving from new awareness, to new actions, to new rhythms. He shares personal stories about getting called out on weak hamstrings, losing steam on his goals, and how small, consistent steps have led to real change over time. If you’ve ever felt like you’ve tried to fix the same thing a hundred times and you’re still stuck, this episode will give you language, hope, and a concrete path forward. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why frustration and disappo

You can have a compelling mission and a sharp strategy, but if your culture is unhealthy or unclear, your team will stay stuck. In this episode, Alan sits down with culture coach and author Jenni Catron to unpack why culture matters more than we think and how clarity becomes the foundation for trust, engagement, and healthy growth. Jenni shares her own journey from the music industry into executive church leadership, and the jarring contrast between a life-giving culture and a toxic one. She explains why leaders can’t just “hope” for a great environment – they need a plan to build it with intention. They talk about the signs your culture is drifting, why people often go quiet long before they quit, how to invite honest feedback without losing your voice as a leader, and why patience and persistence are essential when you start changing long-standing patterns on your team. If you lead a staff, a volunteer team, or you’re trying to rebuild a culture you inherited, this conversation will give you language, pract

Most leaders expect failure to be hard — but no one warns us how disorienting success can be. In today’s episode, Alan Briggs takes us inside a live leadership session and unpacks the real, often hidden challenges that come with growth: fulfillment gaps, maturity barriers, identity drift, disorientation, burnout, and the pressure of everyone wanting a piece of your time. But this conversation isn’t about fear. It’s about forming the kind of roots that can sustain real fruit. Alan shares practical insights on: Why success often feels emptier than we expect The surprising truth that what got you here won’t get you there How success multiplies options, noise, and expectations Why leaders lose honest feedback when they gain influence The difference between external fruit and internal roots The identity dreams every healthy leader should define How to build a life that matches the person you’re becoming What it takes to grow without losing yourself, your family, or your soul If you’re leading a t

Great leaders don’t just give answers. They ask better questions. J.R. Briggs joins Alan to unpack how curiosity, coaching questions, and practical reflection rhythms build trust, unlock growth, and transform teams. Episode Summary: If you’ve ever left a conversation wishing you’d asked a better question, this episode is for you. J.R. Briggs shares the mindsets and mechanics behind powerful questions at work, at home, in faith, and why leaders who cultivate curiosity build healthier, higher-impact teams. We explore obstacles like expertise traps, speed, and “question deserts,” then get tactical with preparation prompts, in-the-moment practices, and post-conversation reflection. You’ll Learn: • The difference between clarity questions and connection questions • Practical coaching prompts: trade-offs, the capital-C Challenge, and “what do you really want?” • How one courageous question (Darryl Davis) can disarm hostility • A repeatable rhythm to prepare, participate, and reflect after conversations • How asking

Most leaders don’t fail because of a lack of ideas... they fail because those ideas never leave their heads. In this episode, Alan Briggs helps leaders make the crucial shift from intuitive to intentional, showing how to build systems and filters that multiply impact and prevent burnout. If your team constantly depends on you for decisions, it’s time to get what’s in your head into theirs — so your organization can grow beyond your personal capacity. Alan unpacks insights from the middle of his book, Anti-Burnout: A Lighter Way to Live and Lead in a Heavy World, and breaks down a practical process that will help you lead more effectively without carrying it all alone. What You’ll Learn Why your best ideas and decisions shouldn’t stay in your head The three essentials for moving from intuitive to intentional: process, courage, and trust How to clarify your vision, mission, and values so your team can act without hesitation The four H filters every leader needs (humble, hungry, honest, high-capacity)

Every leader has that project...The one that’s been sitting on your list for months (or years) because you don’t know where to start. In today’s episode, Alan breaks down a simple but powerful 3-step framework to help you get unstuck and finally take action on the work that matters most. Whether you’re writing a book, launching a new initiative, creating a new offering, or trying to push a big idea across the finish line, this episode gives you a proven path forward rooted in clarity, momentum, and healthy leadership practices. This teaching comes directly from the H2 coaching process and aligns with the principles in Alan’s book Anti-Burnout: A Lighter Way to Live and Lead in a Heavy World. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: Why feeling stuck is not a leadership flaw—it’s a signal The first mindset shift required to create movement The exact 3 questions you must ask to break through resistance How healthy leaders use who and how to move faster—with less stress A practical way to break down overwhelming

Legacy isn’t what you leave—it’s what you set in motion. In this conversation, David Green (Founder & CEO of Hobby Lobby) and Bill High (CEO of Legacy Stone) share insights from their new book, Legacy Life: Leading Your Family to Make a Difference for Eternity. Together they unpack how to think beyond success and retirement to build something that outlives you—faith, family, and purpose that multiplies through generations. What You’ll Learn What inspired Legacy Life and why legacy is a system, not a season The key difference between legacy and generosity Why retirement isn’t the finish line for leaders of faith How to clarify your identity, calling, and assignment The practical process to write your family vision, mission, and values Why storytelling is vital for passing down faith and wisdom A simple model for repairing conflict and celebrating progress The mindset of a 100-year leader and how to start now Episode Chapters 01:06 – The story behind Legacy Life 03:34 – Rethinking retireme

Misalignment sneaks up slowly—and it’s expensive. When your life, work, or team drifts out of alignment, you start feeling it: fatigue, frustration, disconnection, and eventually burnout. In this episode, Alan unpacks how to spot misalignment early and realign your wiring, your purpose, and your team before things break down. You’ll hear: The story of a coaching client who ignored the “alignment rumble” too long Why wiring, purpose, and team are the three biggest alignment zones How to use the Working Genius Assessment to clarify your design The Drains & Fills exercise to reclaim energy and focus A simple Pacing Check to make sure your speed matches your team’s capacity Two reflection questions to realign your work this week “You will hit potholes. You will need realignment. It’s not if—it’s when.” Reflection Questions How can you align your work more closely to your wiring? What change can you make to align more closely with your team? Tools Mentioned www.h2leadership.com for more

We said goodbye to Stay Forth—and hello to H2 Leadership. Same mission, sharper clarity. This episode is our official announcement and a roadmap for where we’re heading: helping leaders become healthy and high impact (H2). From a beach pop-up studio in Delray Beach, we unpack: Why the name change (clarity over clever): people loved our work but didn’t always “get” the name. What H2 Leadership means: health (heart, soul, mind, body, relationships) + sustainable impact. Energy > time: lead by ROE—Return on Energy, not just calendars and hustle. The core shift: moving from reactive to proactive leadership. Priorities → elimination: clarity creates riverbanks; a to-don’t list protects what matters. Who we serve: business, nonprofit, and ministry leaders—any catalyst who wants to lead well. You’ll learn A simple way to audit the 5 domains of health How to tune tension (like a guitar string) between health and impact Practical steps to reclaim focus and build momentum with your team What’s

Ineffective leaders create dysfunction around them, but grounded, effective leaders create life, clarity, and vitality. Work is meant to bring dignity and meaning—not constant stress and confusion. In this episode, Jonathan and Alan unpack why grounded leaders are desperately needed right now and how they shape healthier, more focused, and high-impact teams. You’ll hear: The difference between being efficient with tasks and being effective with people Why grounded leaders produce both internal fulfillment and external impact Practical ways to shift from scattered to grounded leadership The markers of a healthy, focused team versus a stressed, reactive one How to stop doing in the name of efficiency and start doing in the name of effectiveness If you’re feeling the weight of distraction, burnout, or constant urgency, this episode will help you re-center on what matters most and lead in a way that protects both your health and your team’s impact.

Pastors and ministry leaders are carrying more than ever—and too many are doing it in silence. Dr. Mark Mayfield (author of The Mental Health Handbook for Ministry, professor, clinician, and former pastor) joins Alan to demystify mental health in the church, unpack the real difference between coaching and counseling, and give you a practical playbook for when struggles walk into your office… or show up on your staff. This isn’t theory—it’s field-tested, grace-filled, and immediately actionable. In this episode you’ll learn: Coaching vs. Counseling (the clean line): when you need tools to move forward vs. when you need to heal backward How to spot pop-psych “silver bullets” and what trustworthy care actually looks like A fast diagnostic lens for depression: intensity + duration (and what to do next) ADHD or overloaded attention? Trauma, screens, and why so many leaders are being mis-labeled Burnout’s bottom layer: dissociation/avoidance—and how to interrupt the loop Boundary basics for pastors (why

Feeling called to your work is a gift — but it can also be the very thing that burns you out. In this conversation, Alan sits down with Dr. Arianna Molloy, author of Healthy Calling: From Toxic Burnout to Sustainable Work, to unpack the hidden costs of living from a deep sense of purpose. Leaders who love what they do often give until they break. Arianna calls this deep shame — the disorienting feeling of losing yourself when the work you once loved starts consuming you. Together, Alan and Arianna explore how to recognize the early signs of burnout, why calling carries both resilience and risk, and how leaders can craft healthier rhythms to sustain their impact.

In this special episode, Alan Briggs steps away from the usual pace of life—and leadership—and invites us into a slower, deeper rhythm. Recorded on location from the island of Terceira in the Azores, Alan shares reflections from his very first pilgrimage—a spiritual journey with a physical component. What began as a walk through unfamiliar terrain turned into a profound time of rest, reflection, and reconnection with God. If you’ve ever felt burned out, spiritually dry, or simply curious about how to slow down long enough to hear from God… this one’s for you. In this episode, Alan explores: What really is a pilgrimage—and why it matters today The tension between being a tourist and a seeker Unexpected spiritual lessons from Holy Spirit houses and Catholic cathedrals Questions that shaped each day: How have I limited God? How am I different when I rest? How nature, walking, and reflection unlock new clarity and connection This isn’t your typical leadership episode—and that’s the point. Feeling the

Our phones promise connection but often choke out what matters most. Alan Briggs and Joey Odom dive into the “PID loop” of proximity, interaction, and dependence — and share practical ways to reclaim your time, creativity, and relationships from constant distraction. We all feel it. That little computer in our pocket is shaping our attention, our relationships, and even our leadership. But what if our phones aren’t just tools—they’re thorns? In this episode of the Stay Forth Leadership Podcast, Alan Briggs sits down with Joey Odom, co-founder of Reclaim Well and the ARO Box Book recommendation: The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt Alan’s book The Sabbatical Journey — your field guide for deep rest and reorientation Subscribe, rate, and review the Stay Forth Leadership Podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

Every leader faces seasons of busyness, drift, and distraction. When that happens, what helps you stay the course? Your purpose. In this episode, Alan and Jonathan unpack why purpose acts like a compass — keeping you oriented, steady, and moving in the right direction when everything else feels chaotic. Alan shares his discipline of taking quarterly Think Days to step back, reflect, and regain clarity. You’ll hear how these rhythms not only renew his own leadership but also fuel alignment and energy for his entire team. This conversation also dives into the Unique Design framework — the intersection of your wiring, gifting, and calling. When you discover and lead from your unique design, you stop running on fumes and start moving with focus, impact, and fulfillment. Whether you’re leading a business, an organization, or your family, this episode will help you rediscover your compass and navigate with confidence. What You’ll Learn: Why leaders lose clarity when they don’t create space to think How a Think

What separates leaders people trust from leaders they just tolerate? It’s not charisma. It’s not talent. It’s self-leadership — the ability to lead yourself with consistency, clarity, and accountability before you ever try to lead others. In this episode, Jonathan Collier and Alan “Stay Forth” Briggs unpack why self-leadership is the hidden competitive advantage in today’s world, how to model it for your team, and what practical habits build trust faster than any title or resume ever could. You’ll learn: Why consistency breeds credibility (and how to spot it on any team) The simple 3-foot rule that keeps your leadership grounded How to model behaviors your team will actually copy Why deadlines and follow-through create instant trust How to manage your energy, not just your calendar The tension between bringing your best and not being perfect Practical steps to raise your self-leadership game this week Reflection Questions: Where are you leaking time and energy? What’s one area in your lead

Summer’s winding down, kids are heading back to school, and your weekly rhythm is about to look very different. In this episode of our H2 Leaders summer series, Jonathan and Alan define what true resilience looks like for a leader—and why it has nothing to do with “toughing it out” and everything to do with maintaining what matters most in your life. You’ll learn Alan’s 3-C framework for navigating change (Change | Clarity | Communication), plus practical habits to build both proactive steadiness and responsive flexibility so you can lead with confidence through every season. What You’ll Learn What Is Resilience? Why it’s not grit or forced optimism, but the ability to maintain your values, boundaries, and priorities when your world shifts. The 3-C Framework: Change is inevitable—embrace that it’s coming. Clarity lets you decide your next move, even in uncertainty. Communication (louder and clearer!) keeps your team trusting you through every pivot. Proactive vs. Responsive Practices: – Proactiv

In today’s episode, Alan shares how a rare open Saturday—spent hiking into the Colorado mountains to fly-fish—quickly turned into another to-do list. He realized that our most life-giving pursuits (hobbies) are constantly at risk of becoming tasks we “have to” check off. In this conversation, Alan unpacks why hobbies are essential to flourishing, offers a framework for rediscovering them, and gives practical steps to reclaim joy, creativity, and rest in the midst of our busy “have-to” lives. What You’ll Learn: Why Hobbies Matter: How leisure activities serve as mental rest, spark creativity, and renew passion for work and family. Focal Practices: The power of “idle,” present-moment activities that reconnect you to what truly matters. Benefits of Hobbies: From distraction of weighty issues to replenishment cycles that boost productivity. Rediscovery vs. Discovery: Tips for uncovering the hobbies you loved as a kid—or stumbling on new ones today. Practical Steps: How to schedule your first hobby sessi

Halfway through summer and already feeling the rush of back-to-school and end-of-year deadlines? In this episode of the H₂ Leader Summer Series, Alan Briggs and Jonathan Collier challenge the “grind-only” mentality by uncovering the power of relational leadership over mere transactions. You’ll learn: The difference between transactional (BNI-style) and relational (Coharbor-style) approaches How a high-trust culture drives better engagement, retention, and results The 3 Cs every leader needs—Curiosity, Care, and Consistency—and how to practice them Real-world signs your organization is drifting into “just manage” mode Reflection questions to help you shift from “What can they do for me?” to “How can I serve them?” Whether you lead a small team or a global enterprise, you’ll come away equipped to strengthen trust, spark engagement, and multiply your impact—one authentic connection at a time. Show Notes Welcome & Summer Check-in Mid-summer realities: schools shopping in July, transactional ev