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OwlCast: The Leadership & Coaching Podcast

OwlCast: The Leadership & Coaching Podcast

Written by: David Morelli with Co-Host William Oakley
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About this listen

 OwlCast is a podcast on leadership and coaching. You can expect to get insights to help you solve the thorny problems of life and leadership – all with a dollop of laughter thrown in. Your dynamic hosts, David and William, will help you become a more kickass leader. Together, they won’t only motivate you, they’ll give you scientifically proven tools to become better – full stop!David Morelli 2020-2025 Careers Economics Personal Success Self-Help Success
Episodes
  • Nice Leaders, Weak Results: Why Kindness (Not Niceness) Drives Real Performance

    Nice Leaders, Weak Results: Why Kindness (Not Niceness) Drives Real Performance
    May 5 2026
    Many leaders believe they have only two choices: be nice or be a jerk. In this episode, David Morelli and William Oakley dismantle that false binary and introduce a far better option—kindness. Through candid stories, research, and real workplace examples, they explain how “niceness” often avoids discomfort, feeds mediocrity, and erodes trust, while true kindness requires courage, clarity, and honest conversations. This episode reframes feedback, trust, and leadership communication in a way that challenges comfort—and delivers better results.

    Key Topics:

    • Niceness is often about self-protection; kindness is about growth.
    • Avoiding hard conversations increases conflict rather than reducing it.
    • Overly nice feedback creates confusion, mistrust, and stagnation.
    • Clear, specific, and timely feedback is an act of kindness.
    • Kind communication reduces long-term conflict and builds trust.
    • Great leaders are willing to create short-term discomfort for long-term growth.
    • Trust is built through honesty, not comfort.
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    46 mins
  • Let It Die: The Hard Leadership Skill of Letting Go

    Let It Die: The Hard Leadership Skill of Letting Go
    Apr 28 2026
    We’re taught that great leaders persevere—but what if the real leadership skill is knowing when to stop? In this episode of OWLCAST, David Morelli and William Oakley tackle the uncomfortable truth that holding on too long—to projects, programs, habits, or decisions—can quietly drain performance and morale. Through research, real-world stories, and the concept of “zombie projects,” they show why letting go feels so hard, how ego and sunk costs keep us stuck, and how strategic pruning creates space for focus, growth, and better results.

    Key Topics:

    • Letting go is not quitting—it’s a leadership skill.
    • “Zombie projects” drain time, energy, and morale long after they stop adding value.
    • High performers are often the worst at stopping bad work because of conscientiousness and loyalty.
    • Only ~8% of organizations actively stop projects—yet those that do see significantly higher growth.
    • Fear of being perceived as unreliable keeps leaders stuck in outdated commitments.
    • Pruning (even good things) allows resources to flow to what matters most.
    • Ending on a high note can be more powerful than dragging something out.
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    47 mins
  • The Likeable Underperformer: Keep Them, Coach Them, or Let Them Go?

    The Likeable Underperformer: Keep Them, Coach Them, or Let Them Go?
    Apr 21 2026
    Good Ole’ Jimmy. He’s such a likeable guy. Everyone loves Jimmy! But what do you do when someone is beloved by the team—and consistently underperforms? In this episode of OWLCAST, David Morelli and William Oakley explore one of leadership’s most uncomfortable dilemmas: the likable underperformer. Through real-world stories and the RESPECT coaching framework, they unpack why leaders avoid these conversations, how likability can unintentionally enable poor performance, and why expanding your coaching options leads to better outcomes. Rather than rushing to a binary decision, this episode reframes the issue as a leadership challenge that requires curiosity, nuance, and courage.

    Key Topics:

    • Likability often masks underperformance
    Strong relationships can delay or soften performance conversations—sometimes at the cost of fairness and clarity.
    • Avoiding the issue hurts high performers
    When underperformance goes unaddressed, resentment builds and top contributors begin to disengage or leave.
    • Being “nice” isn’t the same as being effective
    Leaders often default to affability, hoping likability will inspire change—when it rarely does.
    • Culture contribution still counts—but it isn’t everything
    The episode explores how to think holistically about value without ignoring role expectations.
    • Performance problems are often identity problems
    Fear of failure, fear of standing out, or past success strategies can keep people stuck.
    • The real work happens before “keep or let go”
    Thorough coaching creates clarity—making the eventual decision fair, grounded, and defensible.
    • Ignoring underperformance is what leaders get dinged for most
    Speed and skill in addressing underperformance matter more than avoiding discomfort.
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    54 mins
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