The Learn-It-All Podcast

Are your leaders solving problems too quickly without building trust and connection first? What if they approached leadership more like nurses with empathy, purpose, and humanity rather than rushing to solutions like surgeons? 

In this compelling episode of The Learn-It-All Podcast, Geoffrey Roche, inaugural Director of Workforce Development at Siemens Healthineers, shares powerful insights about leading with heart and purpose drawn from his 16+ years in healthcare leadership. The son of a nurse, Geoffrey explains how the empathetic, human-centered approach of nurses offers a powerful model for effective leadership in any industry. Through vivid stories and examples, he illustrates how slowing down to truly understand people, building genuine trust, and creating psychological safety enables better solutions and more sustainable results than traditional command-and-control leadership. 

This Episode Covers: 

• Why empathy isn't just "being nice" it's about taking extra effort to understand others' experiences without judgment 
• How to have crucial conversations with toxic leaders while maintaining professionalism and compassion 
• Why the best solutions often come from frontline workers and how to create an environment where they feel safe sharing ideas 
• The power of storytelling to build authentic connections and "bring down the temperature" in difficult situations 
• Why transparency about why ideas can't move forward is critical for maintaining trust and motivation 
• How to coach people to advocate for their ideas effectively, even to senior leadership 
• The transformative impact of believing in people's potential even when they don't believe in themselves 

Episode Highlights:

(00:00) Introduction to Geoffrey Roche – Damon and Darren introduce Geoffrey, highlighting his background in healthcare and leadership. 

(01:30) Leadership Inspired by Nurses – Geoffrey shares how his mother’s work as a nurse influenced his empathetic approach to leadership. 

(05:30) Heart-Centered Leadership in Action – Geoffrey recounts stories of leaders who modeled trust, vulnerability, and collaboration to inspire high performance. 

(09:00) Addressing Toxic Leadership – Geoffrey discusses the impact of toxic leaders and strategies for challenging them with empathy and respect. 

(12:33) The Power of Storytelling – Geoffrey explains how storytelling fosters trust and connection within teams. 

(17:00) Building Trust with the Front Lines – Geoffrey shares lessons from healthcare, emphasizing the importance of listening to and empowering front-line workers. 

(21:30) Empathy and Tough Conversations – Geoffrey offers advice on navigating crucial conversations with compassion and purpose. 

(33:18) A Vision for Healthcare’s Future – Geoffrey paints a picture of what healthcare could look like with more heart-centered leadership. 

(42:00) Final Thoughts – Geoffrey shares parting advice on embracing empathy and purpose as core leadership principles. 

About Geoffrey: 

As the inaugural Director of Workforce Development at Siemens Healthineers and National Healthcare Practice Executive Advisor at Core Education PBC, Geoffrey Roche is transforming healthcare workforce development through strategic innovation and equity-focused initiatives. Drawing from over 16 years of healthcare and higher education leadership experience, Roche's "Heart Leader" approach combines empathetic leadership with strategic vision, influenced by his early career working under a nurse CEO and his background as the son of a nurse. A Forbes Business Council member and sought-after speaker at major healthcare conferences including Becker's Annual Conference and HLTH, Roche serves as a strategic advisor to numerous organizations and startups while advancing healthcare workforce solutions through his thought leadership and industry partnerships. 

Resources Referenced: 

Are You Missing the Next Big Business Opportunity by Making Innovation Too Complicated? 

What if the key to successful innovation isn't brainstorming clever ideas but simply identifying what genuinely frustrates people? Henrik Werdelin, co-founder of BarkBox and pioneer of the "it sucks that" methodology, demonstrates how focusing on solving real problems rather than generating novel ideas can lead to multimillion-dollar businesses. 

This episode explores how Werdelin has consistently built successful ventures by identifying and solving clear customer pain points. From his early days hijacking MTV's airwaves to showcase internet content, to building BarkBox into a pet industry powerhouse, to his current mission of democratizing entrepreneurship through AI, Werdelin shares practical insights about innovation, problem-solving, and adapting to technological change. His approach challenges traditional notions of entrepreneurship and offers a refreshingly straightforward path to building valuable businesses. 

 This Episode Covers: 

• Why starting with "it sucks that..." leads to better business opportunities than brainstorming ideas 
• How BarkBox evolved from a subscription box service into a comprehensive pet happiness company by staying focused on their core customer 
• The critical difference between selling products and solving problems for a specific customer group 
• Why most senior leaders are failing to properly implement AI (and what to do about it) 
• How AI is democratizing entrepreneurship by making startup resources and expertise accessible to everyone 
• A practical framework for testing business ideas quickly without overcomplicating things 
• The importance of continually planting new "acorns" of innovation around your core business 

Episode Highlights:

(00:00) Introduction to Henrik Werdelin – Damon introduces Henrik, highlighting his journey from MTV to building Bark and his approach to problem-solving. 

(01:30) The Power of “It Sucks That” – Henrik explains his problem-first framework for entrepreneurship and why identifying frustrations leads to better ideas. 

(05:00) Lessons from MTV – Henrik shares how his time at MTV taught him to focus on lifestyle branding over utility and how this shaped Bark’s success. 

(08:33) Building BarkBox – Henrik recounts the early days of BarkBox, using rapid prototyping and customer feedback to validate ideas. 

(12:00) The Acorn Method – Henrik introduces the concept of planting small ideas (acorns) to grow scalable solutions while staying close to customers. 

(17:00) AI and Entrepreneurship – Henrik discusses how AI is lowering barriers for entrepreneurs and enabling faster, more efficient problem-solving. 

(21:30) Autos: Democratizing Entrepreneurship – Henrik shares his vision for Autos, an AI-powered platform that helps anyone start a business in just days. 

(33:18) Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs – Henrik offers practical tips on getting started, testing ideas quickly, and overcoming the fear of failure. 

About Henrik: 

Henrik Werdelin, co-founder of NYSE-listed BARK (known for BarkBox) serving over 2.5 million dogs monthly, brings deep expertise in entrepreneurship and innovation from his prior role as MTV's VP of Product Development. As a founding partner of venture development firm Prehype and founder of AI platform Audos, he has advised major companies like Coca-Cola, LEGO, and Microsoft, while his methods are taught at leading institutions including Stanford. A prolific thought leader, Henrik hosts the "Beyond the Prompt" podcast and has authored books on corporate innovation and AI's impact on entrepreneurship, cementing his position as a respected voice in both the startup and corporate innovation spaces. Originally from Denmark but now based in New York, Henrik has consistently been recognized for his creative impact, including being named among Fast Company's Top 100 Most Creative and Silicon Alley Insider's '100 People in Tech'. 

Resources Referenced: 

Are your top performers secretly planning their exit? 

In this illuminating episode, of The Learn-It-All Podcast, leadership expert Dr. Benjamin Ritter shares profound insights about career development, executive presence, and creating psychologically safe environments where high-performers can thrive. Through his work coaching leaders across organizations from startups to Fortune 500 companies, Dr. Ritter has observed a concerning pattern: many high-potential employees are contemplating leaving their roles not because of poor leadership, but because they feel uncomfortable asking for the guidance and support they need - even from great bosses. He offers practical strategies for both leaders and employees to bridge this gap, build trust, and create the conditions for sustainable career growth. 

This Episode Covers: 

• Why highly respected leaders often unknowingly create barriers that prevent their best people from seeking help 

• How to reframe career setbacks and disappointments into strategic opportunities for growth 

• The counter-intuitive truth about work hours and productivity - and why focusing on impact over time spent is crucial 

• Practical techniques for developing executive presence that align with your organization's leadership culture 

• Why "finding your purpose" can be dangerous advice without proper context and guidance 

• How to establish healthy boundaries while still advancing your career 

• The critical difference between doing extra work and doing impactful work 

Episode Highlights:  

00:00) Introduction to Dr. Benjamin Ritter – Damon and Darren introduce Dr. Ritter, highlighting his leadership expertise and the inspiration behind Becoming Fearless. 

(02:00) From Soccer to Self-Leadership – Dr. Ritter shares his journey from aspiring athlete to leadership coach and the lessons learned from failure. 

(05:30) The Role of Values in Career Growth – Dr. Ritter explains how aligning your work with your personal values creates long-term fulfillment. 

(09:00) Reframing Fear – Dr. Ritter discusses strategies for transforming fear into information and actionable steps. 

(12:33) Building Executive Presence – Dr. Ritter provides tips for developing executive presence and acting like a leader before you earn the title. 

(17:00) Managing Up Effectively – Dr. Ritter shares how to communicate with leaders, clarify priorities, and foster trust within teams. 

(21:30) Lessons from Becoming Fearless – Dr. Ritter introduces actionable strategies from his book designed to help listeners overcome self-doubt and lead with confidence. 

(33:18) Final Thoughts on Intentional Living – Dr. Ritter emphasizes the importance of choosing actions and beliefs that serve your goals and values. 

About Ben: 

Dr. Benjamin Ritter, founder of Live For Yourself (LFY) Consulting and host of two influential podcasts (Executive and Live for Yourself), is an international leadership coach who has guided over 500 senior executives at organizations ranging from startups to Fortune 500 companies like Google, Amazon, and Mayo Clinic. A thought leader with multiple advanced degrees including a doctorate in Organizational Leadership, Dr. Ritter has earned recognition as a Top LinkedIn Voice and is the bestselling author of Becoming Fearless. 

Resources Referenced: 

Are you struggling to maintain confidence and mental toughness through business challenges?  

In this powerful episode, former professional basketball player turned entrepreneur Dre Baldwin shares how his journey from bench warmer to pro athlete shaped his "Work On Your Game" framework - a methodology now used by business leaders worldwide to develop unshakeable discipline, authentic confidence, mental toughness, and personal initiative. Drawing from both athletic and entrepreneurial experience, Baldwin breaks down how structure creates discipline, why most people pursue confidence backward, and how to rebuild after major setbacks. 

This Episode Covers: 

• Why discipline must come before confidence and how to build it through proper structure 

• The critical difference between adding new capabilities versus giving yourself permission to stop being who you've always been 

• How to identify your true "zone of genius" and why you should outsource everything else 

• The counterintuitive approach to breaking down complex problems by leveraging others' strengths 

• Why mental toughness is the "security guard of mental health" and how to cultivate it 

• The power of "eustress" - voluntarily pursuing challenging situations that push you out of your comfort zone 

• The "1% rule" - taking full ownership of the small portion of life you can control to influence the 99% you can't 

Episode Highlights: 

(00:00) Introduction to Dre Baldwin – Damon introduces Dre, highlighting his journey from Division III basketball to a professional career and beyond. 

(01:30) The Basketball Journey – Dre shares how perseverance, exposure camps, and cold-calling agents helped him break into professional basketball. 

(05:00) The Origins of Work On Your Game – Dre explains how his experiences as an athlete inspired his framework for success. 

(09:00) Discipline Creates Confidence – Dre discusses the importance of discipline in building the foundation for self-belief. 

(12:33) Managing Time and Energy – Dre shares practical strategies for balancing work, personal development, and long-term goals. 

(17:00) The Power of Personal Initiative – Dre reflects on how taking action and creating opportunities has shaped his career. 

(21:30) Overcoming Setbacks with Mental Toughness – Dre talks about bouncing back from rejection and staying focused under pressure. 

(33:18) Lessons for Leaders and Entrepreneurs – Dre provides insights into applying his framework to leadership, sales, and business growth. 

(45:00) The Third Day – Dre introduces his latest book and its focus on pushing through discomfort to achieve professional-level performance. 

About Dre: 

Dre Baldwin, CEO and Founder of Work On Your Game Inc., went from being a bench player to having a 9-year professional basketball career before pioneering digital sports development content with over 8,000 videos and 103 million views. A four-time TEDx speaker and author of 35 books, Baldwin has partnered with major brands including Nike, Gatorade, and Buick, while developing his signature Work On Your Game framework for professional development. His impact continues through his daily masterclass podcast, which has amassed over 2,900 episodes and 7.3 million downloads, teaching professionals worldwide about mindset, strategy, systems, and accountability. 

Resources Referenced: 

If you’ve ever climbed to a career peak only to realize it was the wrong mountain, this episode is for you.  

Successful entrepreneur and coach Rodric Lenhart shares how he built multiple seven and eight-figure businesses, traveled the world, and founded a nonprofit—all while avoiding the traditional hustle-and-grind mentality. Business leaders, if you're questioning your path or feeling stuck in a life that’s all about accumulating wealth at the expense of happiness, don’t miss this one! 

Learnit CEO Damon Lembi Rodric Lenhart, bestselling author of Million Dollar Flip Flops discuss how business leaders can avoid the trap of chasing success on the wrong terms. Drawing on personal experiences and hard-learned lessons, Rodric reveals the pivotal moments that led him to develop his unique WAVES Method, a decision filter that helps entrepreneurs reclaim their time, focus on their values, and find true purpose in both life and business.  

This Episode Covers: 

• Why many high-achievers feel empty despite their outward success 
• Rodric’s “WAVES Method” and how it can guide decision-making for business leaders 
• The importance of authenticity and defining values outside societal expectations 
• How travel fosters empathy and leadership qualities in young minds 
• The dangers of taking advice from friends and family 
• Why business leaders often over-prioritize money and under-prioritize time and health 
• How to move from chasing external success to finding internal fulfillment 
• The power of being willing to stop, reassess, and change course 

Episode Highlights:  

(00:00) Introduction to Rodric Lenhart – Damon introduces Rodric, highlighting his entrepreneurial journey, bestselling book, and foundation. 

(01:43) The “Right Map, Wrong Mountain” – Rodric explains why many people climb the wrong mountain and how to identify your true path. 

(02:29) Rodric’s Early Entrepreneurial Journey – Rodric reflects on growing up with limited resources and how those experiences shaped his approach to life and business. 

(05:16) Lessons from Million Dollar Flip-Flops – Rodric introduces the WAVES method, a decision-making framework that aligns actions with purpose. 

(09:22) The Power of Values – Rodric emphasizes the importance of understanding your core values and how they guide fulfilling choices. 

(13:06) Travel and Leadership – Rodric discusses his foundation, Send a Student Leader Abroad, and the transformative power of travel.

(18:00) Why Friends and Family Are the Worst Advisors – Rodric shares why well-meaning loved ones often hold us back and how to seek the right guidance. 

(25:11) Embracing Change and Quitting – Rodric highlights why it’s okay to pivot, quit, and realign when something no longer serves you. 

(31:35) Final Thoughts on Living with Intention – Damon and Rodric wrap up with actionable advice on building a life rooted in purpose and freedom. 

About Rodric: 

Rodric Lenhart is a seasoned entrepreneur, founder of Million Dollar Flip Flops, and author of a best-selling book by the same name.  Having travelled to over 50 countries and with 30 years of experience building seven and eight-figure companies, Rodric dedicates his time as a certified business coach to helping entrepreneurs build businesses that align with their lives, donating all profits to his nonprofit, Send a Student Leader Abroad.  

Resources Referenced: