Loud doesn’t equal leader. Greg Weinger joins us to unpack why quiet professionals can become some of the most effective leaders in the room—and how to get there without faking extroversion or burning out. We dig into the real difference between introversion and shyness, the energy mechanics that shape how people think and speak in groups, and the small, repeatable steps that turn hesitation into confident presence.

Greg shares the pivot from “performing extrovert” to authentic leadership, including the meeting moves that keep ideas from getting lost when the conversation sprints ahead. You’ll hear practical ways to influence beyond the moment—smart follow-ups, written clarity, and narrating your thought process so conclusions land with weight. For managers and HR leaders, we outline simple design changes that elevate team decisions: sending agendas early, building quiet think time, using temperature checks instead of hot-seat prompts, and inviting multiple channels of contribution so every brain gets heard.

We also talk about nerves and purpose. If your heart races before a presentation, you’re not broken; your body is priming to perform. Greg reframes anxiety as activation and pairs it with a purpose-first mindset that makes discomfort worth it. Along the way, we explore how culture shapes what gets rewarded, why deep listening is a competitive advantage, and how to champion quiet talent without forcing them into a loud mold. If you’ve ever thought “I’m not a leader because I’m not the loudest,” this conversation gives you tools, language, and proof that your path is not only possible—it’s powerful.

Enjoy the episode, share it with a colleague who needs the nudge, and if it resonated, subscribe and leave a quick review so more quiet leaders can find it.

Meet the Host
Jay Johnson works with people and organizations to empower teams, grow profits, and elevate leadership. He is a Co-Founder of Behavioral Elements®, a two-time TEDx speaker, and a designated Master Trainer by the Association for Talent Development. With a focus on behavioral intelligence, Jay has delivered transformational workshops to accelerate high-performance teams and cultures in more than 30 countries across four continents. For inquiries, contact jay@behavioralelements.com or connect below!

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayjohnsonccg/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jayjohnsonccg/
Speaker Website - https://jayjohnsonspeaks.com

What if the secret to consistent high performance isn’t more grind, but a better story? We sit down with Steven Puri, a former studio executive turned founder, to connect surprising dots between Hollywood and the workplace: how timeless myths power blockbuster hits, why fear and risk shape decisions, and how those same forces show up in teams that confuse busyness with value.

We get personal about failure, shame, and the discipline of reflection. Steven shares what he learned leaving big studios, launching startups, and then stopping—pen and paper in hand—while the wounds were still fresh to ask, What did I learn? The answer, listen, becomes a theme for leaders who want to swap surveillance for stewardship. Instead of paying for time, we make the case for paying for value and building cultures where people can do the kind of work that moves the business forward.

The conversation closes with community and accountability—how sharing one finished thing a day can create momentum that sticks. If you’re a leader trying to reduce burnout, an individual contributor craving focus, or a trainer designing learning that actually lands, this episode offers a clear path: clarify the mission, manage for output, protect deep work, and recover well. If this resonates, subscribe, share with a teammate who needs it, and leave a quick review telling us your favorite focus ritual.

Meet the Host
Jay Johnson works with people and organizations to empower teams, grow profits, and elevate leadership. He is a Co-Founder of Behavioral Elements®, a two-time TEDx speaker, and a designated Master Trainer by the Association for Talent Development. With a focus on behavioral intelligence, Jay has delivered transformational workshops to accelerate high-performance teams and cultures in more than 30 countries across four continents. For inquiries, contact jay@behavioralelements.com or connect below!

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayjohnsonccg/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jayjohnsonccg/
Speaker Website - https://jayjohnsonspeaks.com

Fluency isn’t a streak; it’s a human connection. Jay sits down with Stacy Richter, CEO of Live Lingua, to unpack why real progress happens when we move beyond vocabulary drills and into immersive, person-to-person learning that mirrors how we actually speak, negotiate, and care for others. From a Minnesota medical center reducing interpreter delays to a manufacturing team winning trust across the border, Stacy shows how learning a language shifts teams from transactional messages to transformational relationships.

We get candid about brain science, too. That “rusty” Spanish you think you lost? It’s still there. Neuroplasticity means pathways reactivate under pressure and context, whether you’re navigating signs in Guadalajara or opening a meeting in German to change the tone in the room. Apps and AI are great gateways—low-friction ways to spark curiosity—but they can’t teach timing, tone, or the cultural rituals that make a joke land or a deal feel respectful. Native, trained tutors can, especially when they tailor your learning to your real world: intake questions for nurses, technical terms for engineers, or the phrases you’ll use on the factory floor.

Ready to build skills that travel with you and bring people closer? Listen now, then subscribe, share with a colleague who works across borders, and leave a review with the language you’re tackling next.

Meet the Host
Jay Johnson works with people and organizations to empower teams, grow profits, and elevate leadership. He is a Co-Founder of Behavioral Elements®, a two-time TEDx speaker, and a designated Master Trainer by the Association for Talent Development. With a focus on behavioral intelligence, Jay has delivered transformational workshops to accelerate high-performance teams and cultures in more than 30 countries across four continents. For inquiries, contact jay@behavioralelements.com or connect below!

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayjohnsonccg/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jayjohnsonccg/
Speaker Website - https://jayjohnsonspeaks.com