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.
Hosted 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
Episode 1 - Imposter Syndrome
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In this Episode:
The hosts focus on Imposter Syndrome, the feeling that you don't deserve your position and are waiting for someone to call you out.
- Defining the Doubt: Erny shares his first managerial experience (being a young boss to older, more experienced employees) and the blunt question that triggered his earliest professional imposter syndrome.
- Early Career Terrors: Ryan recounts being a 19-year-old Lance Corporal marksmanship coach, tasked with instructing NCOs and officers who had far more time in the service than he did.
- Winning Over the Team: The hosts discuss the challenges of being the "FNG" manager, including Ryan's struggle to earn the trust of seasoned drivers at a waste collection company, and how his dedication eventually won them over.
- Ego and Trust: They explore the pitfall of meeting an employee's ego with your own, and how over-controlling or overly defensive leadership kills trust.
- Breaking the Cycle: Learn the practice of humble leadership: admitting you don't have all the answers and collaborating with your team.
- The Pyramid of Leadership: Erny shares a powerful analogy that helps leaders recognize why they are the right person for the job, despite feeling like they're "nothing special."
This episode is about embracing the struggle, staying humble, and leading anyway.
Leading Ain't Easy was created by Ryan Calkins and Erny Epley, and is hosted by Ryan and John Moore.
- Ryan is the founder of Reframe & Rise, where he works with veterans who transitioned successfully but still feel something's off; helping them find alignment, not just a better job title.
- John is a certified life and career coach with 20+ years of experience helping people navigate transitions, find purpose, and lead with intention — drawing on backgrounds in corporate leadership, counseling, and entrepreneurship.
- Erny runs Bus Pro Network, supporting school transportation leaders across California with training and development, and joins the show as an occasional guest.
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