The Global Leadership Podcast

Ep 209: Communication, Candor and Trust (with David Ashcraft) 03.06.2026 26min

Communication can make or break trust on a team, especially when the conversation gets tense. In this episode, Whitney Putnam and GLN President and CEO David Ashcraft talk about one of the most common leadership challenges: how to communicate with clarity, candor and care when the stakes are high. They unpack a real moment from a recent GLN all-staff meeting, where a public challenge created tension, required follow-up and ultimately helped sharpen strategy. Whitney and David explore why leaders often think they are being clear when others are hearing something different, how trust makes hard conversations possible, and why "keeping short accounts" can prevent tension from becoming toxic. This conversation gives leaders a practical look at how honest communication, handled with humility and follow-through, can strengthen both the work and the relationship.

Ep 208: Leading When the Plan Falls Apart with Craig Groeschel 20.05.2026 44min

Every leader eventually faces a moment when the plan stops working. A strategy fails, a team dynamic breaks down, growth creates new complexity, or an unexpected circumstance forces a change in direction. In this episode, David Ashcraft talks with Craig Groeschel, founder and senior pastor of Life.Church, about how leaders can respond when leadership does not go as planned. Craig reflects on failed ideas, organizational pivots, team conflict, and the ongoing discipline of letting go as leadership expands. He also shares how humility, preparation, prayerfulness, candor and trust have shaped the way he leads through uncertainty. For leaders navigating disruption—whether external circumstances or internal challenges—this conversation offers a grounded reminder: the mission matters more than the method, and growth often requires the courage to release what you can no longer carry.

Ep 207: Leading Through Leadership Hijacks with Edgar Sandoval 13.05.2026 50min

Every leader eventually encounters disruption—moments that challenge assumptions, redirect plans, and test resilience. In this episode, GLN President and CEO David Ashcraft talks with Edgar Sandoval, President and CEO of World Vision, about navigating what David calls "leadership hijacks": unexpected events that reshape both leadership and life. Edgar shares his journey from immigrating to the United States as a teenager with little money and no English skills, to leading one of the world's largest Christian humanitarian organizations. Along the way, he reflects on lessons learned through personal hardship, raising children with special needs, leaving a successful corporate career at Procter & Gamble, and leading World Vision through COVID and global uncertainty. This conversation explores how leaders can remain grounded during disruption, communicate hope without ignoring reality, and create healthy organizational cultures that help people thrive even in difficult seasons.

Ep 206: When Leadership Gets Hijacked: Reclaiming Your Focus, Identity, and Definition of Success (with David Ashcraft) 06.05.2026 20min

Leadership doesn't usually derail all at once—it gets hijacked slowly by subtle internal forces like comparison, self-doubt, and misplaced definitions of success. In this episode, Whitney Putnam sits down with David Ashcraft to unpack the internal and external "hijacks" that pull leaders off course. They explore how even confident leaders can fall into comparison traps, how self-doubt often disguises itself in different ways, and why defining success based on others' metrics leads to frustration. This conversation brings leaders back to what matters most: clarifying personal priorities, choosing the right voices to listen to, and aligning success with purpose rather than perception. If you've ever questioned your place, your progress, or your impact, this episode offers a grounded way to refocus and move forward with clarity and intention.

Ep 205: Our Favorite Moments, Winter 2026 — Lessons on Resilience, Presence, and Perspective (with Whitney Putnam and Eric Case) 29.04.2026 26min

Leadership is often formed in the middle—when progress is slow, challenges persist, and outcomes are unclear. This episode highlights key moments from recent conversations to help you stay grounded in those seasons. You'll hear insights on perseverance from Walker Hayes, practical wisdom on resilience from David Ashcraft, and a timely reminder from John Maxwell about embracing the season you're in. Whitney and Eric also share personal leadership challenges and what helped them keep going. If you're facing pressure, uncertainty, or slow progress, this episode will help you focus on what you can control—and continue leading with purpose where you are.

Ep 204: Why Culture Is a Leader's Responsibility (and How to Shape It) with Jenni Catron 22.04.2026 48min

Every organization has a culture—but not every leader is shaping it intentionally. In this episode, Jenni Catron explains why culture is one of the most important (and often overlooked) responsibilities of leadership. In this conversation with GLN President and CEO David Ashcraft, Jenni offers a practical definition of culture, along with clear ways to translate values into everyday behaviors and reinforce them through consistent rhythms. Jenni also outlines what it actually takes to change culture—where to start, how long it takes, and why many efforts stall. Along the way, she highlights the subtle signs of an unhealthy culture and the role leaders play in either reinforcing or correcting them. If you're responsible for a team, this conversation will help you take a more intentional, long-term approach to building a culture where people and performance can thrive.

Ep 203: How Leaders Use Strategy (with David Ashcraft) 08.04.2026 20min

Strategy can feel intimidating. Maybe it brings up pressure to get it right. Maybe it feels restrictive. Or maybe it's something you've been avoiding because you're not quite sure where to start. In this episode, Whitney Putnam sits down with GLN President and CEO David Ashcraft to simplify strategy and make it practical. Together, they unpack why strategy matters at every level of leadership—and why waiting for perfect clarity might be the very thing holding you back. If you've ever felt stuck trying to "figure it all out" before taking a step forward, this conversation will help you move.

Ep 202: Creating Meaningful Change Through Faith and Entrepreneurship (with Justin Forman) 25.03.2026 38min

Leadership isn't just about building something successful; it's about building something meaningful, aligning what you believe with how you lead and using what you've been given to make a difference. Today's guest is someone who has spent years helping leaders do exactly that. Justin Forman is a strategist and leader working at the intersection of faith, entrepreneurship. He's the cofounder and president of Faith Driven Entrepreneur and Faith Driven Investor: global movements helping more than 1 million leaders integrate faith and how they lead and build businesses. Justin brings people together—entrepreneurs investors, and leaders—to move from good intentions to lasting impact. GLN President and CEO David Ashcraft recently sat down with Justin to talk about how faith, media and entrepreneurship can create meaningful change and what it looks like to build something that truly matters overtime.

Ep 201: Five Essential Functions of Leadership (with Henry Cloud) 18.03.2026 48min

Dr. Henry Cloud is a bestselling author, psychologist, and leadership expert whose work on boundaries, relationships, and emotional health has shaped leaders around the world. If you are familiar with Henry, you know that he doesn't just diagnose problems—he helps leaders understand what growth actually looks like, and how we can take responsibility for it in real life. Our President and CEO, David Ashcraft, recently sat down with Dr. Cloud for a conversation about his upcoming book Your Desired Future. This book is basically a masterclass in how to lead—yourself and other people and is exactly what we've come to expect from Henry: deep psychological insight with super practical application. Whether you are just getting started in your leadership journey, or you've been at it for a while now, this conversation is an absolute game-changer, and we are so glad we can bring it to you today.

Ep 200: Resilience for Leaders (with David Ashcraft) 04.03.2026 22min

Today we're talking with GLN president and CEO David Ashcraft about resilience. Honestly, sometimes I love the word, "resilience." However, sometimes I kind of hate it: usually when I'm in the middle of a really challenging time that I just wish would end. This conversation will help you think about why resilience is necessary and the importance of celebrating small wins. With the right inputs, we can be resilient leaders.

Ep 199: Creativity, Perseverance and Gratitude (with Walker Hayes) 25.02.2026 38min

In this episode, David Ashcraft sits down to do a live webinar with Walker Hayes, the singer and songwriter behind hits like "Fancy Like" and "Stetson", to talk about the faith and grit that it takes to create over the long-term, and how an attitude of gratefulness changes your perspective on just about everything.

Ep 198: The World of Creativity (with Fredrik Haren) 18.02.2026 45min

Whether it's ideating from nothing, feeling pressure to be original or wondering if creativity is something you either have or you don't, most of us struggle with creativity at some level. However, for today's guest, to be creative is to be human. Author, speaker and "Creativity Explorer" Fredrik Heron has spent decades helping leaders understand that creativity isn't about talent or personality: it's about practice, environment and perspective. GLN President and CEO David Ashcraft sat down with Fredrik to talk about his new book The World of Creativity and together they unpack what it really means to lead creatively—even when the ideas don't come easily.

Ep 197: Innovation (with David Ashcraft) 03.02.2026 28min

When the word, "innovation" gets mentioned, there tends to be two broad reactions: some people love pioneering and creating new things. However, a lot of people immediately think, "I am not creative; innovation is something that comes easily to other people and not me." If you find yourself in that latter group, today's interview with GLN President and CEO David Ashcraft will hopefully dispel those thoughts and show how innovation doesn't mean creating something out of nothing. If you're ready to discover how to give yourself space for innovation, give this episode a listen.

Ep 196: A Lifetime of Leadership (with John C. Maxwell) 20.01.2026 35min

Have you ever wished you could sit down with someone who has truly mastered their craft? Michael Jordan on winning; Mozart on music; Leonardo Da Vinci on creativity. Not just to review their highlight reels but to unpack all the lessons they learned across their lives? Well, that's what today's conversation feels like because today we get to listen to John C Maxwell talk about leadership. John Maxwell is a world-renowned leadership expert and best-selling author who has trained countless leaders across industries and across the globe. It's no exaggeration to say that he has helped define the shape of modern leadership. John's life is an example of what can happen when someone stays curious, humble and committed to growth for decades, and there also something truly about getting to learn from someone who has run their race well and stayed faithful to growth over the long haul. John was honored as a GLN Legacy Leader at the 2025 global leadership Summit, and he sat down with our president and CEO, David Ashcraft for a conversation in front of a live studio audience about what a lifetime of leadership looks like.

Ep 195: On Purpose and Calling (with David Ashcraft) 06.01.2026 22min

Today's episode is all about purpose and calling. As a leader who is rolling into a new year, you might be thinking about what's next. This conversation with GLN President and CEO David Ashcraft will encourage you with the unique ways you've been called to lead and center you by reminding you what it's all about.

Ep 194: A Look Back at 2025 (with Whitney Putnam and Eric Case) 17.12.2025 35min

As 2025 wraps up and 2026 gets started, we thought we'd take a look back on all the great conversations we've had over the past year and pick a few of our favorites to share with you. Whitney and Content Producer Eric Case talk through their reactions to episodes with guests Marcus Buckingham, Joni Eareckson Tada, David Ashcraft and Gabe Salguero.

Ep 193: Reflection and Celebration (with David Ashcraft) 02.12.2025 25min

The end of the year is a natural time to look back and take stock on what we've done and how far we've come. In honor of that, GLN VP of Marketing and Communication Whitney Putnam sat down with President and CEO David Ashcraft to get his thoughts on reflection and celebration.

Ep 192: Creating Spaces Where Productivity, Creativity and Well-being Soar (with Bradley Rapier) 18.11.2025 41min

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to see the people around you—your teammates, your friends, your spouse, your children—absolutely thriving? Today's guest is Bradley Rapier. Bradley is an award-winning, Emmy-nominated choreographer with over three decades of experience in dance, production and leading teams and talent from Hollywood to Broadway. Whether dance and choreography is your thing or not, what Bradley teaches in this conversation with GLN President and CEO David Ashcraft is what happens when people feel engaged and connected, and how we as leaders can facilitate that engagement. So, whether you're leading your teenage children, a creative group, or you're simply part of a group of friends, when people deeply feel that they are a part of something, everything changes: productivity, creativity and well-being soar. Bradley calls it, "stepping into the Circle," and everyone is invited.

Ep 191: Leadership and Rest with David Ashcraft 04.11.2025 21min

When the topic of rest comes up, most of us fall into one of two camps. Some of us welcome the conversation and immediately begin to think about when we get to ease off the gas pedal and relax a little. Others, however, just as quickly start to experience frustration and maybe even anxiety. Maybe you struggle to unplug and take some time for yourself; maybe you're not even sure why rest is necessary. Wherever you are, this podcast is for you, and we invite you to listen in as GLN President and CEO David Ashcraft shares what he has learned about the importance of rest in a leader's life.

Ep 190: New Communication Tools for the Digital Era, with Erica Dhawan 28.10.2025 47min

If you're looking for some best practices around communicating in today's digital, virtual environments, this episode is for you. Today, we listen in on a conversation between David Ashcraft and digital body language expert Erica Dhawan. Together they explore how communication has changed, particularly over the past 5 years, and what leaders can do right now to communicate effectively with their teams to maximize collaboration and effectiveness.