the Learn-It-All™ podcast

The Learn-It-All™ podcast is built on the conviction that the leaders worth following aren't the ones with all the answers. They're the ones who never stop learning. If you've chosen growth over coasting, and curiosity over the comfort of being the smartest person in the room, you're a learn-it-all. And this podcast is for you. Host Damon Lembi is a 3x bestselling author, CEO of Learnit, and someone who has spent 30 years watching what separates leaders who keep growing from those who quietly become the ceiling that limits everyone around them. Each episode features real conversations with top executives, founders, NYT bestselling authors, and world-class athletes — people who've faced adversity, made costly mistakes, and done the hard, unglamorous work of growing. They share what they learned — and unlearned — to lead at the next level. Great leaders aren't born or made. They're always in the making. Let's not do that work alone. Stay curious. Keep learning. Subscribe to the Learn-It-All Podcast on your favorite platform to never miss an episode.

the Learn-It-All™ podcast is a business podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 331 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 Learn-It-All™ podcast, a business show with 331 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 #330

  330. Why Your Decision Making Under Pressure Fails | Michelle "MACE" Curran

  Sep 14, 20261h 1m

  Most leaders think they're managing stress. A lot of the time they're managing fear. Michelle "MACE" Curran is a combat veteran and former fighter pilot who flew lead solo for the Thunderbirds. Her book, The Flipside: How to Invert Your Perspective and Turn Fear into Your Superpower , outlines how fear isn't something to get rid of — but rather something to use to make better calls when the pressure is highest. What kept her steady in the cockpit is exactly what leaders need on the ground. In this episode, you will learn: Why the self-doubt or anger you feel is actually hiding fear How to mentally rehearse difficult conversations A two-second reset you can use anywhere without anyone noticing How much pressure you need to be a high performer How to build trust quickly in your team (and then keep it) What to say when someone on your team makes a costly mistake Topics discussed: (00:00) Introduction (01:11) Fear That Lives in Your Mind (02:51) Overthinking & Self-Doubt (04:27) Self-Regulation Tools (10:27) Too Little Pressure Is a Problem (15:40) Setting the Standard for Female Pilots (18:19) When the Room Turns to Look (23:01) When Your Leader Believes in You (29:27) Building Trust with 50% Turnover (32:37) Debrief Without Blame (35:54) The Right Way to Handle a Costly Mistake (39:53) Thunderbirds Near-Death Experience (44:27) Decisions Under Pressure (50:54) The Pause Before You React (53:37) The Impact of Her Book (57:05) Feed Your Kid's Curiosity Connect with Michelle “MACE” Curran: https://www.instagram.com/mace_curran/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/macecurran/ About the Guest: Michelle “MACE” Curran is a combat veteran, former fighter pilot, and only the second woman in history to fly as the Lead Solo for the Thunderbirds, the Air Force’s elite demonstration squadron. Now on a new mission, she’s using her story to inspire others to take bold action and flip their fear. Mace has become a highly sought after keynote speaker for clients like Microsoft, PwC, and SpaceX, helping audiences build courage, trust their instincts, and take decisive action under pressure. Her latest book, : , turns high-stakes cockpit lessons into powerful tools for life and leadership and recently landed in the Top 20 on the USA Today Bestseller list. Let us know your key takeaways from the episode! And remember, great leaders aren't born. They're always in the making. New episodes of The Learn-It-All Podcast with Damon Lembi every week. Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheLearnItAllPodcast?sub_confirmation=1 Get your FREE copy of The Learn-It-All Leader: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/3ingcx2pp5 Upskill yourself and your team with Learnit: https://www.learnit.com Follow Damon Lembi: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/damonlembi Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/damonlembi This episode was produced by Podcast Boutique https://www.podcastboutique.com

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  Episode #329

  329. Why Your Team Can't Focus | Shawn Vanderhoven, PAUSE Author, Partner at Liz Wiseman's Firm

  Sep 7, 202651 min

  "Got five minutes?" is almost never five minutes. And the impact on your team doesn't end when the task does. Shawn Vanderhoven leads the executive development practice at The Wiseman Group and wrote the USA Today bestseller Pause: How to Lead Brilliant Work in a Busy World . His research found that there are two types of leaders: those who generate traction, and those who amplify distraction. In this episode, you will learn: The leadership practices that help teams focus in distracting environments The five questions to ask before you hand someone work The digital wake you leave every time you hit send The eight-question quiz that shows how distracting you are to your team An exercise to find the hidden issues slowing your team down The AI habit that produces more work instead of better work Topics discussed: (00:00) Introduction (01:05) The #1 Thing Holding People Back (02:18) Traction Leaders vs. Distraction Leaders (03:31) Tune In Before You Jump In (09:18) The Origin Story of Pause (13:23) Your Digital Wake (15:23) The Distraction Test and Your House Rules (18:01) Turn Out Your Pockets (21:11) Pausing Up With a Boss or Client (24:28) Bias for Action vs. Bias for Impact (27:49) Using AI for Better Work (32:58) What a Real Pause Looks Like (36:04) Two Bosses, Two Outcomes (41:45) Clearing Emotional Distraction (43:39) Writing the Book With His Wife (48:34) Which Practices to Start With Connect with Shawn Vanderhoven: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnvanderhoven/ https://www.pausebook.co/ About the Guest: Shawn Vanderhoven is the author of Pause: How to Lead Brilliant Work in a Busy World . He’s a Partner at The Wiseman Group, leading their development practice for senior executives and emerging leaders. He works with top brands like Apple, Johnson & Johnson, and Tesla, building strategies to leverage their greatest assets: talent. He lives with his wife, Anne, in Menlo Park, California. Let us know your key takeaways from the episode! And remember, great leaders aren't born. They're always in the making. New episodes of The Learn-It-All Podcast with Damon Lembi every week. Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheLearnItAllPodcast?sub_confirmation=1 Get your FREE copy of The Learn-It-All Leader: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/3ingcx2pp5 Upskill yourself and your team with Learnit: https://www.learnit.com Follow Damon Lembi: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/damonlembi Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/damonlembi This episode was produced by Podcast Boutique https://www.podcastboutique.com

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  Episode #328

  328: Why Generalists Are Getting Replaced First in the AI Era | Matthew Whyatt

  Sep 3, 202656 min

  What if AI is not replacing people because it is smarter, but because too many businesses have become broad, vague, and easy to copy? Matthew Whyatt, founder of Tech Torque and Authority RevUp, believes founders must “get known before they can get chosen.” In an emergency, nobody calls a generalist. They look for the specialist who understands the exact problem and can solve it faster than anyone else. In this episode of The Learn-It-All™ Podcast, Damon sits down with Matthew to unpack how founders can specialize without limiting their growth, identify their most profitable ideal customers, and build a repeatable B2B sales and marketing system. Matthew explains why a 90% close rate can signal a serious lead-generation problem, how to classify customers using his “absolute, beneficial, and convenient” framework, and why AI becomes jet fuel only after the underlying sales machinery works. They also explore how human taste, judgment, storytelling, and face-to-face relationships create trust in an AI-saturated market. Get a FREE copy of The Learn-It-All Leader Book: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/3ingcx2pp5 In this episode, you’ll learn... Why generalists become easier to overlook as AI makes basic knowledge and execution widely available Matthew’s “target, tolerate, and toss” framework for deciding which customers to pursue, accept, or avoid How job listings can reveal your ideal buyer’s education, responsibilities, performance metrics, and internal priorities Why your content strategy needs three distinct stages: growth, trust, and conversion Why an 80% or 90% close rate usually means you are not generating enough opportunities or taking enough calculated risks The difference between scaling from $2 million to $10 million and building the management structure required to reach $25 million Why AI is “jet fuel” for a working sales engine but helps broken companies “do more dumb stuff faster” How zero-based thinking helps leaders escape sunk-cost decisions: “Knowing what I know today, would I start this again?” Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction 01:22 - The four foundations founders need before using AI 02:18 - Specialization makes you harder to replace 03:52 - Growth, trust, and conversion are not the same content 05:19 - Which customers should you target, tolerate, or toss? 09:24 - When your largest account becomes your greatest threat 11:28 - Building a software company at 22 without a real plan 14:13 - The franchise mistake that exposed a broken system 18:49 - Escaping an endless cycle of “got a minute?” meetings 23:01 - Why identifying as a problem solver can hold you back 24:53 - The $230,000 betrayal Matthew never saw coming 28:41 - Why 50/50 partnerships create dangerous deadlocks 31:01 - The red flags that reveal someone is taking you for a ride 32:29 - The zero-based question that kills sunk-cost thinking 36:49 - Why growing from $2M to $10M is a different game 39:18 - The business math behind predictable customer acquisition 40:19 - Why a 90% close rate should make founders nervous 40:59 - AI is jet fuel, but what happens when the engine is broken? 43:21 - The one human advantage you cannot outsource 46:50 - The speed of growth is the speed of transferred trust 49:09 - The sales books Matthew keeps coming back to 51:04 - Matthew’s most practical daily AI workflow 52:31 - How a podcast created an unexpected career opportunity 54:43 - Where to connect with Matthew About Matthew Whyatt Matthew Whyatt is the founder of Tech Torque and Authority RevUp, a two-time startup founder with more than 25 years of experience in B2B software, SaaS, sales, and marketing. After starting his first software business at 22 and scaling a company through the messy transition from founder-led hustle to professional management, Matthew now helps technology companies build clearer positioning, stronger demand-generation systems, and revenue operations that do not depend entirely on the founder. He is also the host of The CEO and the Salesman Podcas t. Resources and Mentions Matthew Whyatt’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewwhyatt/ Tech Torque’s Website: https://techtorque.co/ Authority RevUp’s Website: https://authorityrevup.com/ The CEO and the Salesman Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@TheCeoAndTheSalesmanPodcast Podcast Contact Information: Website: www.learnit.com Email: podcast@learnit.com Subscribe to the Learn-It-All Podcast: Youtube I Apple I Spotify Follow Damon Lembi: Linkedin I Instagram I Facebook I X

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  Episode #327

  327. Fortune 500 Executive Coach: Why You're Winning at Work But Losing at Home | James "J.R." Reid

  Aug 31, 202651 min

  You may be hitting goal after goal, but where is your ambition actually taking you? For James "J.R." Reid, it took two years to notice his success on paper wasn't translating at home. While working with Hall of Famers, All-Star athletes, and Fortune 500 executives, he found the same problem: most underperformance can be traced back to one thing. In this episode, you will learn: Why the real problem isn’t your ambition (and what really is) Why you need someone you can be 100% honest with How to handle betrayal without becoming cynical The runner-up mindset holding you back The four questions behind his Diamond of Identity The habit that helps you reset before you get home Topics discussed: (00:00 Introduction (00:58) Ambition Isn’t the Problem (06:07) The New Leader Trap (09:34) Hold Yourself Accountable (15:37) Find Your 100% Person (17:10) When Trust Gets Broken (21:06)The Cost of Going Cynical (24:36) Executive Athletic vs. Runner-Up Mindset (27:43) One Change to His Pregame (30:55) Identity in the Age of AI (33:04) The Diamond of Identity (35:47) Inside The Clutch Club (43:10) Transition From Work to Home (48:50) What "Made It" Looks Like Connect with James Reid: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesjrreid/ https://jamesreid.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@jamesjrreid https://www.facebook.com/jamesJRreid https://www.instagram.com/jamesjrreid https://x.com/jamesJRreid About the Guest: J.R.” is the Founder of the J. Reid Group and an International Performance, Mental Game, & Life Strategist, Podcast Host, and Author. His work is designed to help relentless pro athletes, public figures, and leaders master life, business, mental, and emotional strategies so they can make winning a lifestyle. Since 2005, he’s empowered clients to excel in their pressure-packed careers while confidently upgrading their health and relationships. Some of his clients include World Series Champions, All-Stars, Hall of Famers, Fortune 500 Executives, and Award-Winning Entrepreneurs whose professional contracts have exceeded the hundreds of millions. By earning an M.B.A, J.D., M.S. in Human Performance, and a 9.8 average client satisfaction rating, J.R. has put himself in an elite category of trusted advisors. After a life-altering car accident gave him a major wake-up call, J.R. devoted himself to mastering human performance and showing up bigger for his wife and three kids. As a result, J.R. has been featured by Focus on the Family and New York Times Best-Selling Author and Leadership Expert, Michael Hyatt, in Your Best Year Ever. He also co-authored the book W.O.W. Factor: How Defining Words Can Define Your Life and regularly speaks to athletes, entrepreneurs, and executives on overcoming failure, winning in your career and at home, and maximizing human performance. Let us know your key takeaways from the episode! And remember, great leaders aren't born. They're always in the making. New episodes of The Learn-It-All Podcast with Damon Lembi every week. Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheLearnItAllPodcast?sub_confirmation=1 Get your FREE copy of The Learn-It-All Leader: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/3ingcx2pp5 Upskill yourself and your team with Learnit: https://www.learnit.com Follow Damon Lembi: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/damonlembi Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/damonlembi This episode was produced by Podcast Boutique https://www.podcastboutique.com

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  Episode #326

  326. Why High Earners Feel More Stuck Than Ever (The Success Trap) | Alexa DePaolo

  Aug 27, 202648 min

  What if earning more money didn’t create freedom, but quietly made you a hostage to the life you built? Real estate expert, Keynote speaker, and business strategist Alexa DePaolo escaped poverty, became a national top producer, and created the financial security she once dreamed about. Yet even after the desperation was gone, she continued answering calls at 11 p.m., stepping away from her daughters’ activities, and sacrificing family time to protect a success she feared could disappear at any moment. In this episode of The Learn-It-All™ Podcast, Alexa joins Damon to explain why high earners feel trapped by success, how a scarcity mindset can survive long after financial hardship ends, and why peace sometimes feels like laziness to high performers. She shares the boundaries that helped her stop operating from desperation, the 30-day hiring rule that prevents resentment, and why she now gives paying business away when a client’s values do not align with hers. If you are financially successful but still feel overworked, guilty when resting, or unable to disconnect from your business, this conversation will help you redefine success around freedom, family, meaningful relationships, and work you actually enjoy. Get a FREE copy of The Learn-It-All Leader Book: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/3ingcx2pp5 In this episode, you’ll learn... Why Alexa felt happier when she was poor and how the fear of losing everything kept her trapped in a desperation mindset even after she became successful How scheduling family time like a client closing prevents empty calendar space from automatically becoming more work Why overgiving is not always generous and how giving to everyone else can quietly take time, energy, and presence away from your family How avoiding an uncomfortable employee conversation caused Alexa to build resentment and become the kind of leader she never wanted to be Why Alexa evaluates new hires at 30, 60, and 90 days and believes poor performance during the “honeymoon phase” rarely improves later How high performers can stop chasing every deal, choose relationships that align with their values, and accept that calm can sometimes be the goal Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction 01:02 – Why Alexa was happier when she was poor 03:11 – Did ignoring an 11 p.m. call ever cost her a deal? 03:51 – The boundary that protects both business and family 04:43 – Growing up without water, electricity, or security 06:19 – The moment her daughter made change non-negotiable 07:20 – “I’ve survived worse than this” 09:52 – Learning to belong in rooms filled with wealth 11:35 – Giving value without giving yourself away 13:39 – When generosity becomes another person’s mess 15:39 – The people who showed Alexa what safety feels like 17:30 – Building a team where questions feel safe 19:08 – How kindness turned into resentment 21:37 – The 30-day rule that prevents bad hires 24:05 – Alexa’s no-bullshit approach to high performance 25:25 – Leaving a predatory leader and facing a lawsuit 28:47 – What broken trust taught her about leadership 31:13 – Why great leaders expect good people to leave 34:03 – The simple systems Alexa teaches from the stage 36:40 – The hustle-to-hostage trap high performers recognize 37:15 – Why peace can feel suspiciously like laziness 40:03 – Raising capable kids without recreating hardship 45:27 – Schedule family time before it is too late 46:42 – Where to connect with Alexa About Alexa DePaolo Alexa DePaolo is a real estate expert, business strategist, and national keynote speaker known for her authentic, no-fluff approach to growth. After rising from poverty and navigating single motherhood, she built a thriving career helping others turn grit into momentum. With almost 20 years in the mortgage industry, Alexa empowers real estate professionals, entrepreneurs, and sales teams to master their mindset, build sustainable systems, and create businesses they actually love. She is the founder of The Ripple Effect, both a live event and YouTube show where she sits down with professionals to hear their stories, business lessons, and real-world strategies for growth. Resources and Mentions Alexa DePaolo’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexadepaolo/ Alexa DePaolo’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thealexadepaolo/ Alexa DePaolo’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlexaCOHomeLender/ Alexa DePaolo’s Website: https://www.alexadepaolo.com/ The Ripple Effect: https://www.alexadepaolo.com/the-ripple-effect Podcast Contact Information: Website: www.learnit.com Email: podcast@learnit.com Subscribe to the Learn-It-All Podcast: Youtube I Apple I Spotify Follow Damon Lembi: Linkedin I Instagram I Facebook I X

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