Leading Ain't Easy
Leadership looks shiny on social media. But the reality is it’s messy, isolating, and full of self-doubt. Leading Ain’t Easy pulls back the curtain on the side of leadership nobody puts on their résumé.
Created by Ryan Calkins (Marine Corps veteran, career/leadership coach, and founder of Reframe & Rise) and Erny Epley (public-sector leader and founder of Bus Pro Network), this show dives into the raw, unfiltered truths of leading others; whether it’s in the military, the public sector, or the private world of business.
We’re not here with corporate buzzwords or textbook definitions. Instead, you’ll hear:
- Honest stories about the challenges and failures that shaped us.
- Real conversations about the doubts and decisions leaders wrestle with every day.
- Lessons, frameworks, and laughs that remind you you’re not alone in the struggle.
Episodes run 45-60 minutes (long enough to go deep, short enough for a commute) and drop weekly. Some weeks it’s just us, other weeks we’ll bring in guests (current and aspiring leaders) to share their own unfiltered journeys.
If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re cut out for this role, questioned yourself after making a hard call, or felt like a fraud even with the title… this podcast is for you.
Because leading ain’t easy, but you don’t have to do it alone.
Leading Ain't Easy
Latest Episodes
The Leadership Nobody Notices Until It's Gone
Ryan Calkins and John Moore discuss the kind of leadership that often goes unnoticed: the quiet, preventive work that prevents disasters from happening in the first place. For anyone who's ever done the hard, invisible work and wondered if it m...
The Leader You Were Isn't the Leader They Need
Ryan Calkins and John Moore talk about what happens when the leadership style that worked at your last job walks into a new team and falls flat. It's a conversation for anyone managing people right now who's wondering if the problem is the team...
When Your Best Employee Is Also the Problem
Ryan Calkins and John Moore discuss one of the most challenging dynamics in leadership: what happens when your most valuable employee also becomes your biggest problem. For any manager who's ever felt stuck protecting someone because of what th...
