The Art of Charm
The Art of Charm
The Art of Charm is where self-motivated people, just like you, come to learn from the company’s coaches about to how to master human dynamics, relationships, and becoming your best self with the help of Johnny and AJ, the company’s founders. Johnny and AJ bring their 11 years of coaching experience from their famous Bootcamps, where they host clients in Los Angeles from all over the world and they share their stories, best practices and themselves on this weekly podcast. Not only does The Art of Charm help everyday people, including active members of the military, learn how to become higher performers, better spouses, partners, and coworkers, they dig deep into human behavior, the science behind it, and demystify what we do and why we do it.
Episodes
Mentioned books
24 snips
Oct 12, 2026 • 1h 7min
The FBI’s Secret to Influencing Anyone | Kyle Vowinkel
Kyle Vowinkel, a former FBI hostage negotiator and Hostage Rescue Team operator, draws on high-stakes crises including the Boston Marathon bomber standoff. He explores why calm beats force, how empathy and strategic pauses reduce resistance, and why choice creates commitment. The conversation also covers ego, self-talk, decision triggers, crisis planning, focused curiosity, and leading imperfect teams.
12 snips
Oct 12, 2026 • 15min
How to be Taken Seriously at Work | Social Intelligence Briefing
Doing excellent work is only half the career equation. Learn how to make your contributions visible without bragging, credit teammates while showing your leadership, and present clear recommendations in high-stakes meetings. The conversation also explores handling pushback with confidence, using if-then plans to speak up, and making workload trade-offs clear so your judgment gets noticed.
17 snips
Oct 5, 2026 • 1h
What Your Shame Is Trying to Tell You | Frank Spinelli
Frank Spinelli is a physician, author, and speaker focused on shame, trauma, addiction, and recovery. He explores the difference between shame and guilt, five signs of unresolved shame, and how trauma shapes self-blame. He discusses shame’s physical signals, the Four Ps for navigating triggers, why suppression can fuel relapse, and his Shame Compass framework. The conversation also covers relationships, self-compassion, boundaries, and sharing pain with intention.
Oct 2, 2026 • 13min
You Were Trained to Be Invisible | Social Intelligence Briefing
The habits that once fueled career success can quietly turn high performers invisible. Explore how compliance, people-pleasing, and proving yourself become tangled with identity, limiting visibility and advancement. The conversation examines why old responses resurface under pressure and how deliberate practice can replace them with stronger communication patterns.
Sep 28, 2026 • 1h 3min
Tiny Habits That Change Your Life | Eli Susman
Eli Susman, a Harvard- and UC Berkeley-affiliated researcher and author, explores micro-practices that take 30 seconds or less. They discuss mindfulness in everyday moments, appreciative joy for social media envy, movement, breath, touch, and self-compassion during stress. The conversation also covers habit cues, planned skip days, and replacing self-improvement pressure with self-friendship.
Sep 24, 2026 • 12min
Why Being Liked Isn't Getting You Respected | Social Intelligence Briefing
Why does excellent work so often go unnoticed? AJ and Johnny unpack the gap between being liked and being respected, especially for analytical professionals. They examine approval seeking, conflict avoidance, excessive helpfulness, and hiding behind humility, then explore how to communicate impact, claim outcomes, set boundaries, and build influence without becoming aggressive or inauthentic.
6 snips
Sep 21, 2026 • 50min
Knowing When to Quit | Lindsay Crouse
Lindsay Crouse, a journalist and author who spent 15 years at The New York Times, explores why quitting can be a powerful form of perseverance. They discuss workaholism, sunk costs, career identity, setting “kill criteria,” and choosing deliberately instead of sliding into a life by default. Crouse also explains strategic career off-ramps and how “micro-quitting” can clear space for what matters.
Sep 19, 2026 • 14min
The Competence Trap | Social Intelligence Briefing
Why do talented professionals get stuck despite working harder? This discussion explores the difference between seeking approval and earning respect, using a high-performing advisor caught behind a senior colleague as a case study. It examines career containment, vague promises, over-helpfulness, and the power of clear advancement expectations and timelines.
Sep 14, 2026 • 60min
Why Success Never Feels Like Enough | Dr. Marisa Franco
Dr. Marisa G. Franco, psychologist, author, and relationship expert, explores why compliments can feel threatening and why achievement never quite satisfies. They discuss unresolved memories, emotional triggers, attachment labels, affirmations that backfire, and how painful experiences shape self-worth. The conversation also examines honesty, self-compassion, and staying present with difficult emotions.
12 snips
Sep 10, 2026 • 15min
Waffling | Social Intelligence Briefing
Why do smart professionals start waffling when their ideas are challenged? AJ and Johnny explore the blind spots behind defensive communication, the assumptions that derail difficult conversations, and how deep listening can reveal the real concern beneath pushback. They also unpack how understanding others helps you stay assertive, confident, and committed to strong recommendations.
