In this episode of The Few Leaders Podcast, Boo sits down with Michelle Anne Johnson, former actor turned leadership presence coach, to challenge some of the most outdated ideas in leadership today.

Michelle breaks down why titles, authority, and visibility no longer guarantee influence, and why many leaders are unknowingly operating with high social power and low personal power. Drawing on her experience in television, keynote speaking, and executive coaching, she explains how presence is built internally, not performed, and why purpose doesn’t need to be a grand life mission to be effective.

This conversation explores how leaders can stop showing up cold, lead with more intention in everyday moments, and rethink what confidence actually means. It also tackles why younger generations are less impressed by hierarchy, and what leaders need to shift if they want to stay relevant in an uncertain, fast-moving world.

If you’re tired of leadership advice that focuses on optics instead of substance, this episode offers a sharper, more honest perspective on what it really takes to lead with presence today.

Actionable Takeaway:

1. Having a big title won’t make people follow you; believing in yourself and showing up intentionally will.
2. You don’t need a grand life mission to lead well; you just need to decide how you want to show up in the next meeting.
3. If you want presence, stop trying to perform and start working on what you actually think about yourself.
4. Purpose isn’t something you find once; it’s something you choose every time you walk into a room.
5. Don’t warm up on other people’s time; take a moment to get yourself mentally ready before you speak or lead.
6. Confidence isn’t about being good at something; it’s about believing you’re good enough to deliver.
7. Being authentic doesn’t mean having no filter; it means closing the gap between who you are and how you show up.
8. If a meeting has no clear intention, cancel it; or at least decide what you’re really there to contribute.

Connect with Michelle Anne Johnson:

Learn more about Michelle Anne Johnson

Michelle Anne on LinkedIn

Michelle on Instagram

Connect with Christian "Boo" Boucousis:

Learn more about Christian Boucousis

Boo on LinkedIn

Boo on Instagram

Boo on YouTube

In this episode of The Few Leaders, Boo sits down with executive coach and wealth strategist Marissa Teeter for a candid, thought-provoking conversation about what modern leadership actually requires. From why consistency doesn’t mean doing the same thing forever to why leaders don’t need all the answers, Marissa challenges some of the most deeply ingrained assumptions about growth, confidence, and success.

Together, they explore why leadership is an inside job first, how evolving as a leader doesn’t mean losing your identity, and why intentional systems — not status or appearances — are what truly create long-term stability and freedom. The conversation also shines a light on wealth, unpacking why clarity, discipline, and self-awareness matter more than income level.

Listeners will come away with fresh perspectives on leading through change, creating peace of mind through better financial decisions, and building a version of success that’s sustainable not performative.

This episode is for leaders who are ready to disconnect from the busy brain, question the stories they’ve been told, and build something that actually lasts.

Actionable Takeaway:

1. Review how you lead and ask yourself where you need to evolve, rather than trying to be more consistent.
2. Look at the gaps in your team and reflect on what they might be showing you about your own leadership.
3. Practise saying “I don’t know” and use it as an opening to listen, learn, and lead better.
4. Shift your focus from being the best performer to creating the conditions for others to do their best work.
5. Separate your sense of security from how much you earn and focus on building clarity and control instead.
6. Write down exactly where your money is going so you can make decisions from facts, not feelings.
7. Build simple, repeatable systems for money and decision-making instead of chasing the image of success.
8. Get intentional precisely because you’re busy, not once things finally slow down.

Connect with Marissa Teeter:

Learn more about Marissa Teeter

Marissa on LinkedIn

Marissa's Podcast

Marissa on YouTube

LMarissa on Instagram

Connect with Christian "Boo" Boucousis:

Learn more about Christian Boucousis

Boo on LinkedIn

Boo on Instagram

Modern leadership isn’t failing because people don’t care. It’s failing because leaders are distracted.

In this episode of The Few Leader’s podcast, host Boo sits down with Rob Carman, Senior Director of Learning & Development at NASCAR, for a straight-talking conversation about what it really takes to grow people and yourself inside high-pressure organisations.

Together they unpack why leaders are becoming less available, how “I don’t know” can build trust faster than confidence, and why learning only sticks when it actually helps you win at work. Rob also shares practical leadership habits you can use immediately, from quick “spot checks” with your team, to making sure no one is ever blindsided in a tough conversation, and the mindset shift that separates people who avoid pressure from leaders who run straight through it.

If you’re leading people right now and you’ve felt the pull of busyness, tech, and constant noise, this episode will give you a sharper, more human way to show up.

Actionable Takeaway

1. Check your screen time before you say you “don’t have time”.
2. Send one quick check-in message to someone on your team today.
3. Practise saying “I don’t know—let’s figure it out together” this week.
4. Give feedback early so no one is ever surprised in a big conversation.
5. Block 15 minutes weekly to practise one leadership skill on purpose.
6. Stop avoiding the hard thing and have the tough chat you’ve been delaying.
7. Start every 1:1 by asking “How are you—really?” and actually listen.
8. Write down one recent mistake and what you’ll do differently next time.

Connect with Rob Carman:

Book a call with Rob Carman

Rob on LinkedIn

Connect with Christian "Boo" Boucousis:

Learn more about Christian Boucousis

Boo on LinkedIn

Boo on Instagram

Boo on YouTube

What if the “busy leader” image isn’t making you effective but making your team keep their distance?

In this episode of The Few Leaders: Speaker Series, leadership expert Lisa Even joins the show to unpack the real driver behind performance: culture the everyday “ways of being” leaders model through their energy, choices, and micro-behaviours. If you’ve ever felt like your team isn’t fully speaking up, trusting you, or bringing you the real issues, this conversation will change how you look at your own presence.

Lisa shares a candid moment of feedback that stopped her in her tracks, then breaks down how leaders “bring the weather” into every room and how that ripple effect quietly shapes what people feel safe to say, do, and challenge. We talk about why culture isn’t posters or values statements, but what gets normalised on a normal Tuesday, and why too many leaders fall in love with fixing the problem instead of leading the human in front of them.

You’ll leave with practical actions you can use straight away: adjust your pace and energy so you’re more approachable, get curious about what’s going on in your team’s lives, and pause before reacting so you respond with intention not urgency.

Whether you’re leading through change, managing pressure, or simply trying to build a team people want to be part of, Lisa’s honest insights will help you shape culture on purpose one small moment at a time.

Actionable Takeaway:

1. Stop wearing “busy” as a badge — make yourself easy to approach.
2. Check your mood before you enter a room, because everyone else will.
3. Watch what gets repeated on your team — that’s your real culture.
4. Treat small reactions like big moments, because they travel further than you think.
5. Ask what’s going on before you try to fix anything.
6. Put the person before the problem every single time.
7. Pause before you respond — most things don’t need an instant answer.
8. Help people feel seen, and trust will follow.

Connect with Lisa Even:

Learn more about Lisa Even

Lisa on LinkedIn

Lisa on Facebook

Lisa on YouTube

Lisa on Instagram

Connect with Christian "Boo" Boucousis:

Learn more about Christian Boucousis

Boo on LinkedIn

Boo on Instagram

Boo on...

Many leaders say they don’t have time to slow down, but the real cost shows up in depleted energy, blurred priorities, and a team that learns “busy” is the standard. In this episode, Boo sits down with Amy Vetter for a practical, human conversation about the core theme of the episode: why sustainable leadership starts from within through boundaries, self-awareness, and intentionality.

Amy breaks down how back-to-back meetings snowball into days that run you instead of the other way around, why “busyness” often isn’t a time problem but a belief problem, and how leaders can shift without needing to overhaul their entire lifestyle. You’ll learn simple, actionable moves like creating 5–10 minute buffers between meetings, protecting time you block for yourself, prioritizing 2–3 outcomes each day, and time-blocking what matters so you stop spending your life “picking what’s next.”

We also unpack the mindset traps that keep high performers stuck, including people-pleasing, identity attachment, and the need to feel important, plus practical awareness tools to notice stress early and return to intention in the moment.

If you’re a leader who’s crushing targets but quietly burning out or setting a pace your team can’t survive, this episode will challenge how you define productivity and give you a better way to lead with clarity, boundaries, and presence without losing performance.

Actionable Takeaway

1. Add 5–10 minutes between meetings to reset your energy instead of rushing from one thing to the next.
2. Create clear boundaries so your day doesn’t get taken over by back-to-back meetings.
3. Start each day by choosing the 2–3 things that truly matter instead of constantly reacting to what’s next.
4. Time-block your priorities and intentionally decide what can move to another day.
5. When you schedule time for yourself, protect it instead of giving it away when someone asks.
6. When you feel “busy,” ask what belief is driving it—the need to please, feel important, or avoid slowing down.
7. Use stillness as self-observation, not something you need to do perfectly.

Connect with Amy Vetter:

Learn more about Amy Vetter

Amy on LinkedIn

Amy on Facebook

Amy on YouTube

Amy's Podcast

Connect with Christian "Boo" Boucousis:

Learn more about Christian Boucousis

Boo on LinkedIn

Boo on Instagram

Boo on YouTube

Most business owners have no idea what their company is actually worth, and the cost of guessing can run into the millions. In this episode, I sit down with valuation expert Dave Bookbinder, a man who’s spent decades cutting through the myths, misunderstandings, and ego-driven fantasies that derail leaders during exits, acquisitions, and scale-up decisions.

Dave reveals why 90% of modern business value now sits in intangibles, how misinformation spreads through “golf course valuations,” and why your people may be your most valuable asset even though they never appear on the balance sheet.

We unpack the wild delusions leaders fall for, the red flags in buying and selling a business, and the hidden traps that destroy valuation long before the due diligence begins. From “hockey stick forecasts” to ego-fuelled exits that collapse at the finish line, Dave breaks down the art and science behind knowing your true worth.

If you're serious about scaling, selling, or simply running a tighter, more profitable business, this episode will challenge the way you think about value and show you the hard numbers behind better decisions.

Actionable Takeaway

1. Know your true value before someone else decides it for you.
2. Stop relying on hearsay. Build your decisions on real data.
3. If you don’t value your people, your business won’t be valuable either.
4. Run your business today as if buyers are watching.
5. Face the gap between where you are and where you want to be.
6. Don’t let your ego cost you the deal of a lifetime.
7. If the future suddenly looks too good to be true, question everything.
8. Bring in experts so you don’t leave money or opportunities on the table.

Connect with Dave Bookbinder:

Learn more about Dave Bookbinder

Dave on LinkedIn

David's Linktree

Connect with Christian "Boo" Boucousis:

Learn more about Christian Boucousis

Boo on LinkedIn

Boo on Instagram

Boo on YouTube

AI won’t replace leaders, but leaders who use AI will replace those who don’t.

In this episode of The Few Leaders: Speaker Series, I sit down with Jonathan Brill, Forbes’ number one futurist and a leading authority on innovation, technology, and future strategy. Tune in as we explore how leaders can future-proof their organisations by harnessing the power of AI and building more intelligent, adaptable systems to thrive in uncertain times. We break down the myths around artificial intelligence, uncover why rigid five-year plans no longer work, and reveal the small strategic decisions that create resilience and long-term advantage. From navigating demographic shifts and geopolitical change to rethinking leadership roles in an AI-driven world, this conversation is a blueprint for staying ahead of disruption. Whether you’re a business leader anxious about rapid change or an executive eager to turn uncertainty into opportunity, this episode offers practical insights that will help you lead with confidence in the face of tomorrow’s challenges.

Actionable Takeaway

1. Build rolling options, not rigid five year plans
2. Let AI take on what people can’t, shouldn’t, or won’t do
3. Make small moves today that create big options tomorrow
4. Ask for more help than your peers
5. Grow opportunities by building unexpected connections
6. Stay calm in chaos by using first principles
7. Choose career steps that open more doors, even if they fail
8. Lean into change to uncover opportunities

Connect with Jonathan Brill:

Learn more about Jonathan Brill

Jonathan on LinkedIn

Jonathan's Media Kit

Connect with Christian "Boo" Boucousis:

Learn more about Christian Boucousis

Boo on LinkedIn

Boo on Instagram

Boo on YouTube

Support the Podcast:

If this episode meant something to you, please consider subscribing and reviewing the show. It helps more leaders and future leaders discover these stories.

And if someone comes to mind while you’re listening, send it their way. A small share can go a long way.

AI won’t replace leaders, but leaders who use AI will replace those who don’t.

In this episode of The Few Leaders: Speaker Series, I sit down with Jonathan Brill, Forbes’ number one futurist and a leading authority on innovation, technology, and future strategy. Tune in as we explore how leaders can future-proof their organisations by harnessing the power of AI and building more intelligent, adaptable systems to thrive in uncertain times. We break down the myths around artificial intelligence, uncover why rigid five-year plans no longer work, and reveal the small strategic decisions that create resilience and long-term advantage. From navigating demographic shifts and geopolitical change to rethinking leadership roles in an AI-driven world, this conversation is a blueprint for staying ahead of disruption. Whether you’re a business leader anxious about rapid change or an executive eager to turn uncertainty into opportunity, this episode offers practical insights that will help you lead with confidence in the face of tomorrow’s challenges.

Actionable Takeaway

1. Redesign work so it energises instead of drains you
2. Identify your energisers and build them into your day
3. Turn positive thinking into concrete action
4. Practise getting into flow for maximum impact
5. Anchor your team with a clear sense of purpose
6. Explore AI tools and learn how to use them now
7. Step up as the guide who directs and clarifies
8. Make space for reflection to lead with wisdom

Connect with Josh Allan Dykstra:

Learn more about Josh Allan Dykstra

Josh on LinkedIn

Josh on Instagram

Josh on Facebook

Connect with Christian "Boo" Boucousis:

Learn more about Christian Boucousis

Boo on LinkedIn

Boo on Instagram

Boo on YouTube

Support the Podcast:

If this episode meant something to you, please consider subscribing and reviewing the show. It helps more leaders and future leaders discover these stories.

And if someone comes to mind while you’re listening, send it their way. A small share can go a long way.