Ever felt like there aren’t enough hours in the day to keep learning and growing as a leader? You’re not alone.
Leadership podcasts have become one of the most powerful tools in a modern leader’s toolbelt. Unlike reading, which can sometimes feel like studying, podcasts offer that perfect mix of casual consumption and powerful insight that fits seamlessly into your busy life.
As someone who’s spent years researching leadership development, I’ve discovered that the best leadership growth often happens when we expose ourselves to thinking that’s different from our own. Podcasts create that perfect environment for fresh perspectives without the pressure of formal learning.
Let’s dive into the 15 best leadership podcasts that will genuinely transform how you lead, think, and grow – whether you’re commuting, working out, or just taking a break.
Why Leadership Podcasts Matter
I once had a colleague tell me, “KG, I don’t have time to read another leadership book or attend another seminar.” Maybe you’ve felt that way too.
Here’s what makes podcasts different:
- They fit into life’s cracks – during commutes, workouts, or while doing chores
- They offer passive learning without the mental weight of reading
- They expose you to diverse voices you might not otherwise encounter
- They spark unexpected ideas through conversations rather than structured content
- They feel like eavesdropping on conversations between brilliant minds
As I tell participants in my leadership workshops, the best learning doesn’t always feel like learning. Sometimes it’s just about letting different ideas wash over you until something clicks.
The Top 15 Leadership Podcasts You Should Be Listening To
1. The Diary of a CEO with Steven Bartlett
Host: Steven Bartlett
This long-form podcast (typically 1-2 hours per episode) features deep conversations with CEOs, entrepreneurs, health experts, and authors that go far beyond surface-level discussions.
What makes this podcast exceptional is Bartlett’s ability to extract genuine vulnerability from his guests. The extended format allows conversations to move past rehearsed talking points into territory that’s truly transformative. Whether discussing business strategy, mental health, or personal growth, each episode delivers profound insights worth the time investment.
Some episodes have completely changed how I approach leadership challenges. The raw honesty of guests discussing their failures provides a refreshing counterpoint to the polished success stories we usually hear.
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2. Leadership Decanted
Host: Paul Garcia and KG Butler (Australia)
I created this podcast to blend the rich complexity of wine with leadership insights. Each episode unpacks leadership principles through intimate conversations that feel more like sitting around a table with friends than formal instruction.
What makes it unique is how we explore leadership across all three dimensions that truly matter – career, family, and community. Unlike podcasts that focus solely on business leadership, Leadership Decanted recognizes that true leadership transcends workplace boundaries.
3. How I Built This with Guy Raz
Host: Guy Raz
This NPR podcast features founders of some of the world’s best-known companies sharing their journeys from humble beginnings to extraordinary success.
What I appreciate most about Raz’s approach is how he uncovers the messy middle – those moments of doubt, failure, and unexpected pivots that truly define leadership. It’s not just success stories; it’s about resilience and adaptation.
4. The Tim Ferriss Show
Host: Tim Ferriss
Tim’s long-form interview style gives guests room to go deep, revealing insights you simply won’t get in typical 30-minute formats. He interviews world-class performers across industries to deconstruct their excellence into tactical advice.
What works about this podcast is that Ferriss asks questions other hosts don’t think to ask, creating those “aha moments” that can completely shift your thinking.
5. WorkLife with Adam Grant
Host: Adam Grant
As an organizational psychologist, Grant takes listeners inside unusual workplaces to discover surprising insights about leadership, motivation, and meaning.
The strength of this podcast lies in how Grant challenges conventional wisdom with research-backed alternatives. He doesn’t just tell you what works – he shows you why it works.
6. Masters of Scale
Host: Reid Hoffman
LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman examines how companies grow from zero to billions, with a unique storytelling approach that makes complex business concepts accessible.
What makes this podcast valuable is Hoffman’s insider perspective, having been both entrepreneur and investor, giving him credibility other hosts simply don’t have.
7. HBR IdeaCast
Host: Various
Harvard Business Review’s podcast delivers cutting-edge research and ideas from the world’s top business thinkers in digestible episodes.
The power of this podcast comes from its ability to translate academic concepts into actionable leadership strategies – something I’ve always emphasized is crucial for real growth.
8. The Ed Mylett Show
Host: Ed Mylett
Mylett focuses on peak performance across all areas of life through interviews with top performers from business, sports, and entertainment.
What stands out is how Mylett connects personal development directly to leadership effectiveness – something I’ve seen transform leaders in my workshops time and again.
9. The EntreLeadership Podcast
Host: Various
This podcast from Dave Ramsey’s team features leadership lessons from entrepreneurs who’ve built successful businesses with strong cultures.
Its practical, no-nonsense approach to leadership challenges makes it particularly valuable for those leading small to mid-sized businesses.
10. Coaching for Leaders
Host: Dave Stachowiak
Stachowiak provides tactical leadership advice through conversations with leadership experts and executives.
What I appreciate about this podcast is how it focuses on implementable leadership skills rather than abstract theories.
11. Recode Decode
Host: Kara Swisher
Tech journalist Kara Swisher conducts hard-hitting interviews with leaders shaping our digital future.
The value here comes from Swisher’s fearless questioning and her ability to get leaders to reveal their authentic thinking rather than rehearsed talking points.
12. Dare to Lead with Brené Brown
Host: Brené Brown
Brown’s research on vulnerability and courage translates powerfully to leadership through conversations with change-makers across industries.
What makes this podcast exceptional is how Brown connects emotional intelligence to practical leadership challenges – illustrating that being “real” is one of a leader’s most powerful tools.
13. The Learning Leader Show
Host: Ryan Hawk
Hawk interviews leaders from diverse backgrounds to uncover common principles that drive sustained excellence.
The podcast’s focus on continuous learning aligns perfectly with what I call the “Pulse” principle – the rhythm of pushing forward and pausing to reflect that all great leaders master.
14. The John Maxwell Leadership Podcast
Host: John Maxwell and team
Leadership expert John Maxwell shares timeless principles through both teaching episodes and interviews.
Maxwell’s decades of leadership wisdom provide a solid foundation for both new and experienced leaders looking to grow.
15. Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast
Host: Craig Groeschel
As the leader of one of America’s largest organizations, Groeschel offers practical leadership advice in short, focused episodes.
The podcast’s bite-sized format makes it perfect for busy leaders who want to improve incrementally over time.
How to Make the Most of Leadership Podcasts
I’ve found that many leaders download podcasts but don’t maximize their learning potential. Here’s how to get more from your listening:
- Create a system – Schedule podcast time into your week rather than listening randomly
- Take notes – Keep a notes app open to capture key insights
- Implement one idea per episode instead of trying to apply everything
- Share insights with your team to multiply the learning
- Rotate between podcasts that challenge different aspects of your leadership
As I tell participants in my leadership workshops, “Consistency builds excellence.” Creating a regular podcast routine is like being vanilla – it seems plain, but it’s actually the foundation for remarkable growth.
The Power of Passive Learning
What I love most about podcasts is how they’ve transformed leadership development from formal study into casual consumption. As I write in my book 10 Leading Tools, learning doesn’t always happen in structured environments:
“Our language, or our mastery thereof, can also impact how we think as leaders, as groups, and as people. Our language can influence how we see the world.”
Podcasts expand our leadership language by exposing us to new concepts, metaphors, and frameworks that subtly reshape our thinking.
I remember driving home from a client meeting feeling stuck on a problem with no solution in sight. I put on a podcast episode that had nothing to do with my challenge, but somehow, through the magical process of passive learning, connections formed. By the time I pulled into my driveway, I had a completely new approach to try.
That’s the beauty of podcast learning – your brain makes connections you might miss in more formal settings.
Finding Time for Long-Form Podcasts
You might be thinking, “I love the idea of these podcasts, but when am I supposed to find two hours for The Diary of a CEO?”
I get it. The time commitment can feel daunting. Here’s what works for me:
- Break it up – Listen to longer episodes in chunks over several days
- Increase playback speed – Start at 1.25x and work your way up as your listening skills improve
- Replace lower-value audio time – Trade some music, news, or social media scrolling for podcast time
- Pair with routine activities – Walking the dog, doing dishes, or folding laundry become learning opportunities
Long-form podcasts like The Diary of a CEO are worth the investment because they provide depth that shorter formats simply can’t match. The extended runtime allows guests to move past surface-level answers into genuine insight.
Building Your Leadership Podcast Routine
The true power of these podcasts isn’t in listening to all of them, but in finding the few that consistently spark new thinking for you.
Start by selecting 2-3 podcasts from this list that align with your current leadership challenges. Listen consistently for a month. Notice which ones energize you and which ones you find yourself skipping.
Remember, the goal isn’t information accumulation – it’s transformation. The right podcasts should make you think differently about leadership problems you’re currently facing.
As you listen, ask yourself: “How does this change my approach to leading my team tomorrow?” That’s where the real growth happens.
Which leadership podcast will you try first? I’d love to hear about your experience in the comments below.
