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 4 - Leading As Yourself (w/ John Moore)
In this episode of Leading Ain’t Easy, we’re joined by special guest, John Moore (a longtime training leader turned coach) who has spent over 20 years leading teams in corporate environments that didn’t always make it easy to show up as himself.
We dig into what it means to “lead as yourself” in 2025, why so many workplaces feel colder and more transactional than they used to, and how you can still lead with empathy, love, and high standards without getting steamrolled.
John shares stories from the boardroom, layoffs, and leadership programs that tried to strip out personality, and how he’s intentionally done the opposite: building relationships, earning trust, and creating spaces where people actually want to work and learn.
Along the way, we also get into the messy parts: confidence vs. arrogance, being asked to “tone it down,” the cost of caring in environments that don’t, and how to stay human when you’re the one delivering hard news.
In this episode, we talk about:
- Why trying to copy someone else’s leadership style will burn you out
- The difference between confidence and arrogance (and how to tell which one you’re leading from)
- How corporate culture shifted from “we know your family” to “you’re a line item”
- What to do when you’re asked to cut people you actually know and care about
- Why new leaders should learn and do first before they start delegating
- How to build credibility and buy-in by being a doer instead of just a director
- Practical ways to stay grounded and authentic when the job demands hard decisions
If you’ve ever felt like you had to hide who you are to be taken seriously as a leader, this one’s for you.
"Leading Ain’t Easy, but you don’t have to do it alone."
Leading Ain’t Easy is hosted by Ryan Calkins and Erny Epley.
- Ryan is the founder of Reframe & Rise, a career and leadership coaching practice helping veterans and other professionals realign their work and lead with purpose.
- Erny runs Bus Pro Network, supporting school transportation leaders across California with training and development.
Subscribe to the show on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen.
Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram for clips, prompts, and behind-the-scenes updates.
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