THE BOLT Podcast

A leadership and personal growth podcast exploring how to navigate change, build mental fitness, and choose growth over comfort. Real conversations with leaders who turned insight into action and created lasting transformation.

THE BOLT Podcast is a education podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 67 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Unknown Host hosts THE BOLT Podcast, a education show with 67 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #67

  The Truth About Equity with Celeste Warren

  Aug 24, 20261h 2mS2

  This episode explains what equity means, how it differs from equality, and why equitable leadership can help people perform at their best. Celeste Warren draws on decades of HR and diversity leadership to explain why treating everyone the same does not always create equal opportunity. The conversation explores workplace barriers, unconscious bias, hiring practices, inclusive systems, employee development, and why leaders need to understand where each person is starting from. Listeners will learn practical ways to identify barriers, ask better questions, create access to opportunity, and build workplaces where more people can contribute their full potential. Key Takeaways Equity creates access to opportunity, not preferential treatment. Equity and equality are not the same. Treating everyone the same is not always fair. Curiosity helps leaders uncover unseen barriers. Equitable hiring does not mean lowering standards. Unconscious bias can influence people decisions. Better systems create more equitable workplaces. Great leaders meet people where they are. Equity can strengthen engagement, retention, and innovation. Equity helps unlock human potential. https://www.toddbertsch.com/podcast/the-truth-about-equity-with-celeste-warren/ Thanks for listening or watching! We appreciate you. Follow us at: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddmbertsch/⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/theboltwithtoddb⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/theboltwithtoddb/⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@theboltwithtoddb⁠⁠ ⚡ Ready to ignite lasting transformation in your team or event? Book me for keynotes, corporate training, or Positive Intelligence® coaching at ⁠⁠ToddBertsch.com

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  Episode #64

  Leadership Is Stewardship with Kyle Wells

  Aug 12, 20261h 1mS2

  Kyle Wells, President of Champion Personnel, shares how leaders can build trust, strengthen culture, improve retention, and guide teams through uncertainty by putting people first. Drawing on his unconventional path from a temporary shop-floor worker to a company owner, Kyle explains why vulnerability, transparency, self-awareness, and investing in employees are essential leadership skills. The conversation also explores hiring challenges, employee experience, AI's impact on recruiting, mental fitness, and practical ways leaders can create workplaces where people feel valued and want to stay. Key Takeaways Transparency and vulnerability build trust. Investing in people strengthens culture and retention. Strong leaders put people before pride. Change is easier when employees feel heard. Great hiring starts with an honest candidate experience. Employer brand plays a major role in attracting talent. AI makes human relationships even more valuable. Mental fitness improves clarity under pressure. Self-awareness is essential for effective leadership. Small steps create meaningful momentum. https://www.toddbertsch.com/podcast/leadership-is-stewardship-with-kyle-wells/ Thanks for listening or watching! We appreciate you. Follow us at:https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddmbertsch/https://www.facebook.com/theboltwithtoddbhttps://www.instagram.com/theboltwithtoddb/https://www.youtube.com/@theboltwithtoddb Ready to ignite lasting transformation in your team or event? Book me for keynotes, corporate training, or Positive Intelligence® coaching at ToddBertsch.com

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  Episode #65

  Know Yourself. Lead Yourself. Change Everything. With Dana Williams

  Jul 28, 202657 minS2

  Know Yourself Before Leading Others Learn why self-awareness is the foundation of authentic leadership and how understanding your strengths, values, habits, and blind spots can change the way you lead. Todd Bertsch and leadership identity expert Dana Williams explore why so many leaders focus on fixing everyone else before doing the internal work themselves. They discuss how assessments like CliftonStrengths, Spark Quotient, Positive Intelligence, and the Authentic Imprint framework can provide meaningful insight without putting people in a box. You'll also hear practical ways to build daily habits that strengthen self-awareness, reduce burnout, improve decision-making, and help you lead from your authentic identity instead of performance pressure. Key Takeaways Leadership begins with understanding yourself before trying to lead others. Self-awareness often requires an interruption that challenges old habits and assumptions. Assessments should serve as mirrors that increase awareness rather than labels that limit potential. Knowing your strengths helps you lead with more confidence and authenticity. Burnout often comes from performing leadership instead of leading from your true identity. Personal growth happens when insight is followed by consistent action. Daily reflection and intentional habits create lasting leadership change. Psychological safety starts with leaders who are willing to do their own internal work. Authentic leadership grows when your strengths, values, and purpose align. Small daily choices to pursue growth over comfort create long-term transformation. https://www.toddbertsch.com/podcast/know-yourself-lead-yourself-change-everything-with-dana-williams/ Thanks for listening/watching! We appreciate you. Follow us at: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddmbertsch/⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/theboltwithtoddb⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/theboltwithtoddb/⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@theboltwithtoddb⁠⁠ Ready to ignite lasting transformation in your team or event? Book me for keynotes, corporate training, or Positive Intelligence® coaching at ⁠⁠ToddBertsch.com

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  Episode #64

  How Great Leaders Build Loyal Teams with Dave Walter

  Jul 14, 20261h 12mS2

  What makes employees stay, grow, and give their best every day? In this episode, Todd Bertsch sits down with veteran leadership executive Dave Walter to explore the principles of people-first leadership. You'll learn how coaching builds stronger teams than command-and-control management, why psychological safety improves performance, how to identify future leaders, and why treating people with dignity and respect creates lasting loyalty. Whether you're a new manager or an experienced executive, this conversation offers practical leadership strategies you can apply immediately. Key Takeaways Great leaders build trust by listening more than they speak. People perform better when they are treated with dignity and respect. Coaching develops employees more effectively than fear-based management. Many organizations fail because they promote managers without leadership training. Psychological safety encourages honest feedback and continuous growth. Consistent one-on-one meetings strengthen relationships and improve engagement. Growth requires stepping outside your comfort zone and embracing discomfort. Hiring for character and culture is just as important as hiring for skills. Proactive leadership helps prevent burnout before it becomes a retention problem. Performance and loyalty naturally follow when leaders genuinely invest in people. https://www.toddbertsch.com/podcast/how-great-leaders-build-loyal-teams-with-dave-walter/ Follow us at: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddmbertsch/⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/theboltwithtoddb⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/theboltwithtoddb/⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@theboltwithtoddb⁠⁠ ⚡ Ready to ignite lasting transformation in your team or event? Book me for keynotes, corporate training, or Positive Intelligence® coaching at https://www.toddbertsch.com/

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  Episode #63

  Your Brain Is a Real Ahole: Making Managers Suck Less with Dr. Jamie Lewis Smith

  Jun 29, 20261h 9mS2

  Why do smart, capable people overthink, avoid difficult conversations, resist change, and sometimes become ineffective leaders? According to psychologist and executive coach Dr. Jamie Lewis Smith, it's because our brains aren't designed to make us successful—they're designed to keep us alive. In this episode of The BOLT Podcast, Todd Bertsch sits down with Dr. Jamie Lewis Smith (aka the NeHRd Lady), Founder and CEO of Pixel Leadership Group, to explore the fascinating connection between neuroscience, leadership, burnout, and workplace culture. Together, they unpack why our brains often sabotage our best intentions and how understanding human behavior can transform the way we lead ourselves and others. Whether you're a leader, HR professional, manager, entrepreneur, or simply someone looking to better understand your own mind, this conversation is packed with practical strategies to build cognitive agility, create psychologically safe teams, coach more effectively, and become the kind of leader people actually want to follow. What You'll Learn in This Episode Why your brain naturally resists change—and how to work with it instead of against it The surprising reason great employees often become ineffective managers What "making managers suck less" really means How psychological safety fuels innovation, trust, and employee engagement Three things every employee's brain needs to feel safe at work Why coaching is one of the most valuable leadership skills you can develop The hidden cost of canceling one-on-one meetings How clarity reduces stress and increases performance Why servant leadership creates stronger organizations Practical brain hacks to become a more resilient and empowering leader https://www.toddbertsch.com/podcast/your-brain-is-a-real-ahole-with-jamie-lewis-smith Thanks for listening or watching! We appreciate you. Follow us at: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddmbertsch/⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/theboltwithtoddb⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/theboltwithtoddb/⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@theboltwithtoddb ⚡ Ready to ignite lasting transformation in your team or event? Book me for keynotes, corporate training, or Positive Intelligence® coaching at ⁠https://www.toddbertsch.com/⁠

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