Take Command: A Leadership Podcast
Episodes
Title: Grit Is Not Optional: Leading Through Crisis with Courage and Heart
24 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
About the Guest: Mr. Wai Phyo is a leading entrepreneur and business leader in Myanmar whose companies span food manufacturing, nationwide distributio...
Nothing to Lose, Everything to Build
10 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
About the Guest: Wemimo Abbey grew up in Lagos, Nigeria, where he witnessed his mother borrow at 400% interest to fund his education. That early exper...
Beyond Shareholders: Rethinking What Winning Means
24 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
About the Guest: Ivan Tornos grew up in Madrid, Spain, facing profound loss—his father, uncle, and brother all passed at 45 from cancer—which fu...
Keep Sharp in Chaos: A Surgeon's Mindset Hack
10 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
About the Guest:Sanjay Gupta comes from a family of trailblazers. His mother, the first woman engineer hired at Ford Motor Company—a refugee who fle...
Driven: Danica Patrick on High-Performance Mindset and Modern Leadership
27 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
About the Guest:Danica Patrick grew up in a household where discipline and high standards were the norm, with her father urging, “get up, don’t wa...
Seismic Shift in the Age of AI: Building Teams That Feel Seen, Heard, and Valued
13 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
About the Guest:Michelle K. Johnston, Ph.D., traces her passion for leadership and connection back to childhood, when she discovered Dale Carnegie’s...
Eagles Don’t Fly in Packs: Courage, Faith, and Leadership
09 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
About the Guest:John Hope Bryant leads the nation’s largest nonprofit provider of financial literacy services for youth and adults. Recognized globa...
95% Decisions, 100% Impact: Rethinking Leadership
25 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
About the Guest:Bill Anderson grew up learning the value of influence and positive leadership from his parents, who instilled in him the importance of...
When the World Stopped, They Kept Moving: A Journey from Fear to Freedom
11 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
About the Guests:Mark Fitzmaurice is a Carnegie Master Trainer who has certified trainers worldwide and authored the “Simple Structures” that tran...
Empathy, the Hidden Superpower of a Modern CEO
28 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Special Listener Offer:As a thank-you for tuning in, enjoy 20% off orders of $149 or more at Omaha Steaks! Use this link to shop and automatically ge...
Climbing Higher: Leadership Lessons from Adversity to Impact
14 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
About the Guest:Jose Garcia is the President of Alberici Constructors, one of the top construction firms in the U.S. He’s a West Point, Stanford, an...
Fearless by Design: Building Global Brands with Purpose
23 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
About the Guest:Adam von Gootkin was raised by a single mother and learned early on that humility and hustle go hand in hand. He built his first disti...
Convicted, Not Defeated: A Real Talk on Ethics and Redemption
09 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
About the Guest:Rashmi Airan was a high-achieving attorney, Columbia Law graduate, and entrepreneur when a real estate transaction scandal changed eve...
Generation AI: Why People Skills Are the Ultimate Competitive Advantage
12 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Britton has been on the front lines of cultural and technological change for over two decades. He’s the founder and CEO of Suzy, a leading cons...
Forged in the Dark: Why Real Leaders Run Toward Problems
22 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
About the Guest:John Venhuizen leads Ace Hardware, a company with a proud 101-year history, built on the trust and hard work of thousands of local own...
Next-Gen Influence: PACSUN’s Strategy to Own the Future of Youth Culture
08 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Episode Notes:Brieane Olson has spent 18 years shaping Pacsun into a youth-focused lifestyle brand, stepping into the CEO role in 2023 after serving a...
Refocus and Rise: Thrive in the Era of AI
24 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
About the Guest:Sowmyanarayan Sampath is the CEO of Verizon Consumer, leading a multibillion-dollar division serving over 100 million customers acro...
Lead Like You Mean It: Purpose, Positivity, and Performance
10 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
About the Guest:Liz Haberberger is the president of Dale Carnegie Missouri and a leadership powerhouse. With a decade of experience coaching professio...
Guy Fieri Returns: Recipe for Success, Part 2 — Authentic Leadership Beyond the Plate
13 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
About the Guest:Meet Guy Fieri—chef, TV host, entrepreneur, and champion for communities in need. With his signature style and relentless energy, Gu...
Miracle Morning: The Way to Take Command of Your Day
22 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Hal Elrod and listen to his story of resilience, mindset, and the relentless pursuit of personal growth. After surviving a car accident at age 2...
Bold Moves, Solid Wins: Overcoming Fear, Leading with Authenticity, and Growing
08 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Anne Mahlum—entrepreneur, investor, speaker, and advocate for living life on your own terms. In 2007, she founded Back on My Feet, a nonprofit ...
Risk and Reward: AI, Leadership, and Organizational Growth
11 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
About the Guest:Meet Dr. Bruce Stillman, president and CEO of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, one of the oldest and most distinguished scientific and r...
Olympic Learning Meets Leadership: Insights on Grit and Good Power
11 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
About the Guest:Ginni Rometty comes from a long line of hardworking women. First there was her great grandmother, who came from Belarus and cleaned ba...
Guy Fieri’s Recipe for Success: Spicing Up Leadership
14 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Remember how people used to ask when you were younger what you wanted to be when you grew up? Well, no one asked Guy Fieri that question because by ni...
From Law to Leadership: A CEO’s Journey of Purpose
24 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
About the Guest:You may know him as the illustrious host of the Take Command podcast and the CEO of Dale Carnegie & Associates, but today, you can mee...
Nourishing People: Sowing the Seeds of Leadership
10 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
About the Guest:While he never would have imagined being where he is today, Jason Buechel was truly made for his current position as CEO of Whole Food...
From Distraction to Focus: The Reset Mindset Journey
26 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
About the Guest:You’ll always find this guest asking new questions because that’s just who Penny Zenker is. Penny says her career path has been a ...
Beyond Profits: People-First Leadership
12 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
About the Guest:Say hello to Bob Chapman, CEO of the internationally renowned Barry-Wehmiller, a machinery industry company with over 12,000 employees...
Leadership in Motion: Strategies for Building Purpose-Driven Teams
22 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
About the Guest:Meet Bill Kramer, CEO of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Bill carries a deep appreciation for art, but despite his mo...
Tech Tides: Key Lessons from Pivot or Die
08 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
About the Guest:Meet Gary Shapiro, CEO of the Consumer Technology Association. For the last 35 years, he’s been responsible for over 4,000 vendors a...
Leading with Love: A Hallmark of Excellence
24 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
About the Guest:It takes a lot to stand out among greatness, and Wonya Lucas’s family is home to some heavy hitters—from her dad, the first Black ...
Integrity First: Where Kindness, Respect, and Innovation Meet
10 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
About the Guest:Being only the 9th CEO in Deluxe Corporation’s 109-year existence, Barry McCarthy feels the weight of that history, saying, “You s...
The Art of Networking: A Blueprint to Humble Leadership
27 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Richard Edelman, the president and CEO of Edelman Communications, a global marketing firm. Richard’s life was on the right track from an early ...
From Setbacks to Success: Charting a Path Through Empathy
13 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
About the Guest:Meet Sharon Price John, President and CEO of Build-a-Bear Workshop and an all-around powerhouse of a woman. Sharon dives deep into her...
Unearthing Young Wisdom from the Dirt World
30 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
About the Guest:Meet Aaron Witt, a man who loves dirt. Or, more specifically, loves the industries that hold our society together. As founder, CEO, an...
The Art of Gravitas: Your Guide to Genuine Confidence and Empowerment
09 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Episode SummaryAbout the Guest:Lisa Sun is a businesswoman through and through. She credits it to her parents, saying, “I cut my teeth as an entrepr...
Rebound Journey: Learning to Bounce Back
11 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
About the Guest:Say hello to David Meltzer. After becoming a millionaire nine months out of law school (not by being a lawyer, mind you), David was hi...
Unlocking Personal Potential through Professional Coaching
14 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Scott Osman always thought he never needed an executive coach. Jacquelyn Lane had an epitome when she vigorously tried to defend a mistake she had mad...
Build Resilience through Self-Belief and Support
30 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
About the Guest:Meet Asheesh Advani, a long-time entrepreneur and current CEO of Junior Achievement (JA). Asheesh had his first brush with the busines...
Empathy Unlocked: The Power of Listening in Leadership
09 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
About the Guest:Say hello to Robin Holdren, a retired U.S. Navy Master Chief Petty Officer and now global leader and coach of Learning and Developme...
Introducing Take Command: A Leadership Podcast
26 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Embark on a journey of real-life business insights and inspiring personal growth narratives. Welcome to Take Command: A Dale Carnegie Podcast, where w...
Lead with Influence: A Proven Process to Lead without Authority
12 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
About the Guest:Meet Matt Norman, the president of Dale Carnegie, North Central US. Matt’s career started in technology, where he struggled with con...
Speaking with Heart: A Dale Carnegie Approach to Building a Better World
27 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
About the Guest:Meet Suzanne Sutter Chesnutt, a dynamic leader with a rich corporate leadership, philanthropy, and organizational development backgrou...
Family Entrepreneurship: From Personal Well-being to Team Synergy and Growth
13 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
About the Guests:Christina Dorr Drake & Rusty Drake are the co-founders of Willa’s Organic Oat Milk since 2020. The couple juggled launching their p...
A Legacy of Wisdom Across Generations
30 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
About the Guest:Niren Chaudhary is the CEO & Chairman of the Board of Panera Brands, one of the world's largest fast-casual restaurant companies. With...
Take Command and Level Up to Become the Best Version of Yourself
09 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
About the Guest:Alvaro Nuñez Alfaro, originally from Madrid, Spain, found himself drawn to the world of tennis at an early age. His dreams of becomin...
Career GPS: Setting Your Destination with Chris Winton
05 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
About the Guest:Chris Winton, from his early days in Memphis, initially struggled with his academic performance while juggling two jobs to support his...
Empowering Change, Confidence, and New Opportunities with Deena Ghazarian
07 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Who is Deena Ghazarian?Deena Ghazarian is a former retail executive at Macy's who has transitioned into a tech executive and is currently the CEO of A...
Become Boundless with Vala Afshar
10 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
1. Who is Vala Afshar?Vala Afshar is a prominent figure in the world of technology and digital transformation. He currently serves as the Chief Digita...
The Power of Learning: A Lifelong Journey with Aarash Darroodi
12 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Who is Aarash Darroodi?Aarash Darroodi is General Counsel, Executive Vice President, and Corporate Secretary of Fender Musical Instruments Corporation...
Culture of Belonging and Empathy with Britta Wilson
08 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
*Note: This episode was recorded in March 2023 About our guest:Meet Britta Wilson, who most recently served as the Vice President of Inclusion & O...
Overcoming Doubt and Pursuing Passion with Redfoo and Piers Ridyard
11 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Who are Redfoo and Piers Ridyard?Redfoo, born Stefan Kendal Gordy, is a multi-platinum-selling singer and two times Grammy nominee, songwriter, produ...
From Engineering to Empathy: A Leadership Journey with Merrie Williamson
06 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Who is Merrie WilliamsonMeet Merrie Williamson, an accomplished leader with a diverse background. With 20 years of experience leading engineering team...
Leveraging the Strengths of Each Individual to Achieve Success with Ron Carter
02 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Who is Ron Carter?Ron Carter is a veteran of the technology industry, an inventor, and a visionary whose work has helped great technology products ent...
Building Your Own Castle with Silvina Moschini
04 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Silvina Moschini is an Argentinian entrepreneur and businesswoman. She is the founder, president & chairwoman of Unicoin, a next-generation cryptocurr...
Play the Game of Now with Suneel Gupta
07 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Suneel Gupta is an accomplished entrepreneur and best-selling author whose mother immigrated to the United States from Pakistan. She secured a positio...
Get Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable with Ally Love
07 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Ally Love is a multifaceted woman, pioneering the slash generation by wearing a multitude of hats. She is the CEO of Love Squad, a community organizat...
Take Command of Your Thoughts, Your Relationships, and Your Future with Michael Crom & Joe Hart
10 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Happy New Year! Our first episode of 2023 is dedicated to Dale Carnegie & Associates' newest book, Take Command. The book, like our podcast, focuses ...
Winning Friends and Influencing People with Stories by Donna Dale Carnegie & Andrew Postman
20 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This end-of-year, special episode of Take Command features an interview with Dale Carnegie’s daughter, Donna Dale Carnegie, who is the Chairwoman of...
Define Your Core Values, Act Upon Your Dreams, and Care About Others with Dr. Vince Patton
22 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Vince Patton served as the Eighth Master Chief Petty Officer (a combination of a rank and a position) of the Coast Guard for more than 30 years un...
When Your Plan B Turns into Plan A with Susie Ma
25 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Susie Ma is the Founder and CEO of Tropic Skincare. She is a philanthropist with a focus on creating a healthier, greener, and more empowered world. T...
People First Culture and Owning Your Decisions with Fergus Williams
20 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Fergus Williams is the CEO of Walking With The Wounded (WWTW), a UK charity that supports injured former members of the UK armed forces during their c...
How to Take Advantage of Opportunities when they Arise with Huynh Thanh Phong
30 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Huynh Thanh Phongstarted his work in financial services and insurance in Asia and is now a well-respected figure in the global insurance industry with...
The Importance of Living a Purposeful Life with Dr. Yasmin Davidds
09 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Yasmin Davidds is an entrepreneur and organizational psychologist. She is CEO of three organizations: the Multicultural Women Executive Leadership...
Winning the Game of Life with Aspiration, Ambition, and Action with Marshall Goldsmith
19 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Marshall Goldsmith is ranked as Thinkers50 World’s #1 Leadership Thinker, World’s #1 Executive Coach, and a New York Times #1 Bestselling Auth...
Winning with Confidence and Ambition with Andre Swanston
28 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Andre Swanston is a dynamic tech innovator and media magnate whose ability to forecast industry shifts, identify opportunities, and take calculated ri...
Live a Bit on the Edge Every Now and Then with Saana Azzam
07 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Saana Azzam is the Founder, CEO & Chief Inspirational Officer of MENA Speakers, The Middle East’s leading speaker’s bureau. She is an award-winnin...
Fail Fast, Fail Cheap, and Focus on the Winners with Kevin Harrington
03 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Meet the original “shark” from the show Shark Tank, the infomercial creator, the pioneer of the As Seen on TV brand, and co-founding board member ...
The Passion for Leadership with Adam Mendler
19 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Adam Mendler is the CEO of The Veloz Group, where he co-founded and oversaw ventures across a wide variety of industries.Adam is also the host of the ...
Building a Mindset to Succeed through Adversity with Robert Forrester
05 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Robert Forrester is the CEO of Vertu Motors plc, currently the fifth-largest automotive retailer in the UK. He got into his current role through a se...
Building Strong Relationships with Keith Ferrazzi
22 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Keith Ferrazzi is a master networker and bestselling author of “Never Eat Alone”. Keith’s experience as the Chief Marketing Officer of Deloitt...
Be Flexible, Nurture Relationships, and Allow Opportunities to Find You
08 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Portia Mount is a marketer who advocates for, writes, and speaks on career and lifestyle issues for working women. Portia is the Vice President of Mar...
Never Walk Away From Integrity with Admiral Michael Mullen, Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
22 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Admiral Mullen is a retired United States Navy Admiral, who served as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He was appointed by President Bush and r...
Focus, Perseverance, and Legacy with Dave Winfield
08 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Dave Winfield is a “true unicorn in sports” as the only athlete in history to be drafted by four professional sports leagues.Today, he is a membe...
Empowering Entrepreneurs to Save Our Oceans with Daniela Fernandez
14 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
At the age of 19, Daniela Fernandez founded Sustainable Ocean Alliance (SOA) while being a student at Georgetown University. Today, Daniela ...
Building Relationships & Taking Risks with Ginny Clark
30 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Ginny Clark is the Executive Director of The Sands Family Foundation and a retired Executive of Constellation Brands. What helped Ginny grow ...
Be Bold, Build Fast, and Make It Brilliant with Dr. Ali Parsa, Founder & CEO, Babylon Heath
16 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Ali Parsa holds a Ph.D. in Engineering Physics and is the founder & CEO of Babylon Health, one of the world’s fastest-growing digital h...
Sunk Cost Fallacy & Diving into the Deep End with Rachel Olney
02 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Rachel Olney is the Founder & CEO of GEOSITE, a business intelligence software for spatial data. As a Stanford University Mechanical Enginee...
Purpose, Humility, Mentorship: Strategies for Life with Artis Stevens
19 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Artis Stevens, President and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBS), lives with a relentless belief in finding and following our own purpos...
Redefining Success
21 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Ryan Chen lives with a relentless focus on the present to maintain a positive, regret-free leadership style. Forbes 30 Under 30 Entrepreneur and the C...
Encouraging Restless Curiosity with Jonathan Karp
14 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A former stage writer and journalist turned editor-and-chief and business leader, Simon & Schuster’s President and CEO, Jonathan Karp, honed his bel...
Building Confidence Through Adversity
07 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
“The key between somebody who builds confidence through adversity and through failure and somebody who doesn’t is all in the decision they make in...
Unlocking Human Creativity
24 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A creative troublemaker and growth-hacking guru, Josh Linkner first learned the art of creating something from nothing from his history as a jazz musi...
Leading with a No Limits Approach for the Future
10 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A doctor gone healthcare executive with an entrepreneurial flare, Stephen Klasko, CEO of Jefferson Health and President of Thomas Jefferson University...
Culture Transformation: Model, Coach, Care
27 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Knowing your “true north” and proactively asking for feedback are two things that Kathleen Hogan, Chief People Officer and EVP of Human Resources ...
Cultivating Success with Healthy Habits
13 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Setting healthy boundaries, “pouring in” to personal and professional wellness, and making the conscious decision to Boss Up and Take Command of o...
Leading for the Benefit of Others
29 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Understanding how great ideas come to fruition is the key to success for many leaders – something that Christian Ward, Chief Data Officer and EVP fo...
Inspiring Curiosity and a Positive Attitude
15 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s guest is characterized for his authentic leadership style and unyielding curiosity for people, leadership, and business. Join us for a discu...
The Legacy of Giving Back
27 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Fueled by a passion for public service and helping others, today’s guest shares insight on what it means to be a business leader, philanthropist, an...
Taking the Initiative with Carlos Cubia
13 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It was from his upbringing, close family ties and lessons learned from his mother that Carlos Cubia, the Global Chief Diversity Officer and Senior Vic...
Transforming Ideas Into Businesses
30 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
With a longstanding history both researching and teaching entrepreneurialism as a Baker Foundation Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Bus...
Empathetic and Humble Leadership
10 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week we welcome a guest who shares tangible insight on leading innovative and effective organizations with authenticity, humility and empathy. As...
The Courage of Innovation and Leadership
02 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Embrace servant leadership, have a coachable spirit and lean in to the gray. This is the philosophy that has guided the success our most recent guest,...
Scaling Success Through Trust and Transparent Leadership
16 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
As the Chief Revenue Officer of Indeed, Nolan Farris touts a wealth of experience facilitating growth for companies by empowering their greatest asse...
Galvanizing Your “Why” and Unleashing Greatness
02 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
CEO and Managing Partner for Edward Jones and Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Business by Fortune, Penny Pennington shares her advice on unleashing gre...
Leaning in to the Upside with Lisa Shalett
19 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
As a former Partner and the Global Head of Brand Marketing and Digital Strategy for Goldman Sachs from 2010 to 2014 in the aftermath of the 2008 finan...
Discovering Empowerment Through Discomfort with Dr. Kevin McDonald
27 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Kevin McDonald has dedicated his career to empowering young people to reach for success no matter who they are or where they come from. From his f...
Leading Through Social Change with Nancy Mahon
13 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
As Senior Vice President, Global Corporate Citizenship and Sustainability at The Estée Lauder Companies, Nancy Mahon is a social impact “thought le...
Get Moving, Life’s Not a Dress Rehearsal with Greg Coleman
30 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Greg Coleman is a veteran digital media executive who made his career helping iconic brands navigate seismic industry upheavals—from Reader’s Dige...
Courage to be Yourself with Pallavi Jha
18 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
As Chairperson and Managing Director of Dale Carnegie Training India, Pallavi Jha has transformed the business into one of Dale Carnegie’s most succ...