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Leading without the BS: Unfiltered. Unapologetic. Unstoppable Performance.

Leading without the BS: Unfiltered. Unapologetic. Unstoppable Performance.

Written by: Wingspan Performance®
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About this listen

Welcome to the leadership podcast that cuts the corporate crap and delivers real leadership strategies for entrepreneurs, business leaders who act like one, and high-performers who are f$cking done with mediocrity. If you're ready to get actionable leadership tools that boost team performance, drive growth, and lead with clarity (PLUS confidence!), this podcast is for you (and your team! Pass on the advice!).

Hosted by Wingspan Performance® Founder & CEO, Cathy Maday, and VP of Operations and Leadership Advisor, Ivan Konermann, this podcast is for the ambitious, resourceful leaders who are sick of the fluff and committed to getting results. No cliches, no BS— PROVEN real-world leadership advice and actionable tools that work.

Every episode is packed with field-tested strategies from over 22 years of behavioral leadership experience, using the Wingspan Performance System™—a proven leadership framework trusted by global enterprises and scrappy startups.

Expect unfiltered conversations, real-world client success stories, and actionable tools for unstoppable leadership performance. Whether you're leading a team or growing your own business, these episodes will help you break through to the next level of behavioral leadership excellence.

Ready to stop chasing empty success and start leading with strategic clarity, focused growth, and lasting confidence? This is your space, and it’s f$cking fun here.


PS: Did we mention we don’t hold back on the swearing? You’ve officially been warned.

© 2026 Leading without the BS: Unfiltered. Unapologetic. Unstoppable Performance.
Careers Economics Leadership Management Management & Leadership Personal Success
Episodes
  • Why Leaders Fail at Accountability (And How to Fix It)
    Apr 29 2026

    What if accountability wasn’t about conflict or confrontation?

    In this episode of Leading Without the B.S., Mike Johnson sits down with Wingspan Performance Advisor Bruce Stankavage to unpack one of the most misunderstood leadership skills: exercising accountability. Drawing from 26+ years as an entrepreneur, Bruce shares how avoiding accountability and unclear expectations quietly limit team performance - and what changed when he shifted his mindset.

    Text us for leadership performance advice!

    4 Takeaways:

    1. Explore Wingspan’s Leader Team Coaching & Advising — the proven path for leaders ready to multiply performance across their teams. Schedule a Clarity Call with one of our expert Advisors right now!
    2. Subscribe to the Wingspan Newsletter — get practical leadership insights, podcast episode deep-dives, client spotlights, and weekly tools delivered straight to your inbox.
    3. Check out our YouTube Channel for unfiltered clips on behavioral performance and leadership actions that actually work.
    4. 📲 Text us for leadership performance advice — real answers for real leaders.

    💥 Subscribe to Leading Without The BS now and share this episode with other leaders who want to stop spinning their wheels and start leading with intentional energy. Someone invested in you — now pass it forward.

    Share your thoughts on this episode and join the conversation on Instagram LinkedIn & Facebook!

    Show More Show Less
    41 mins
  • How "Fuzzy Language" Is Killing Your Team's Performance
    Apr 15 2026

    Join us on today's episode as Mike Johnson talks with Danny Curlin, Plant Manager at Koppers Performance Chemicals, about how he overcame fuzzy language like “I’ll try,” “I think,” and “I need” that was quietly sabotaging his leadership and team performance. In this raw conversation on Leading Without the BS, Danny shares his journey from fast-tracked supervisor to plant manager, the costly impact of vague communication in manufacturing, and the practical shifts he made through Wingspan Performance personalized coaching.

    Learn why accountability starts with clear language, how Danny moved from forcing yes/no answers to rooting out confidence issues, and the surprising results: stronger manager-to-manager conversations, better peer collaboration, and a high-performing team that now operates with greater independence. Perfect for manufacturing leaders, plant managers, and anyone ready to replace autopilot habits with intentional, actionable communication that drives unstoppable results.

    Key takeaways include investing in soft skills, recognizing autopilot tendencies, and why what got you promoted won’t get you (or your team) to the next level. If fuzzy language is costing your operation time, clarity, or results, this episode delivers real-world strategies you can apply immediately.


    Text us for leadership performance advice!

    4 Takeaways:

    1. Explore Wingspan’s Leader Team Coaching & Advising — the proven path for leaders ready to multiply performance across their teams. Schedule a Clarity Call with one of our expert Advisors right now!
    2. Subscribe to the Wingspan Newsletter — get practical leadership insights, podcast episode deep-dives, client spotlights, and weekly tools delivered straight to your inbox.
    3. Check out our YouTube Channel for unfiltered clips on behavioral performance and leadership actions that actually work.
    4. 📲 Text us for leadership performance advice — real answers for real leaders.

    💥 Subscribe to Leading Without The BS now and share this episode with other leaders who want to stop spinning their wheels and start leading with intentional energy. Someone invested in you — now pass it forward.

    Share your thoughts on this episode and join the conversation on Instagram LinkedIn & Facebook!

    Show More Show Less
    30 mins
  • Unspoken Expectations: The Real Cost in Safety & Leadership
    Apr 1 2026

    In this episode of Leading Without the BS, host Mike Johnson talks with Dianne Grote Adams, President & Owner of CFX Inc. and a health and safety expert with over 40 years of experience.

    They reveal how unspoken or unclear expectations lead to serious safety risks, wasted time and money, team misalignment, and frustration. Discover why leaders struggle to communicate behavioral and technical expectations clearly, the hidden costs of poor performance, and practical ways to fix it through direct conversations, better feedback, and aligned communication styles.

    Learn how to eliminate assumptions, reduce emotional fatigue, build trust, and keep everyone safe and performing at their best. Ideal for safety professionals, manufacturing leaders, and anyone driving unstoppable performance through clarity.

    Text us for leadership performance advice!

    4 Takeaways:

    1. Explore Wingspan’s Leader Team Coaching & Advising — the proven path for leaders ready to multiply performance across their teams. Schedule a Clarity Call with one of our expert Advisors right now!
    2. Subscribe to the Wingspan Newsletter — get practical leadership insights, podcast episode deep-dives, client spotlights, and weekly tools delivered straight to your inbox.
    3. Check out our YouTube Channel for unfiltered clips on behavioral performance and leadership actions that actually work.
    4. 📲 Text us for leadership performance advice — real answers for real leaders.

    💥 Subscribe to Leading Without The BS now and share this episode with other leaders who want to stop spinning their wheels and start leading with intentional energy. Someone invested in you — now pass it forward.

    Share your thoughts on this episode and join the conversation on Instagram LinkedIn & Facebook!

    Show More Show Less
    34 mins
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