The H2 Leadership Podcast

Feeling called to your work is a gift — but it can also be the very thing that burns you out. In this conversation, Alan sits down with Dr. Arianna Molloy, author of Healthy Calling: From Toxic Burnout to Sustainable Work, to unpack the hidden costs of living from a deep sense of purpose. Leaders who love what they do often give until they break. Arianna calls this deep shame — the disorienting feeling of losing yourself when the work you once loved starts consuming you. Together, Alan and Arianna explore how to recognize the early signs of burnout, why calling carries both resilience and risk, and how leaders can craft healthier rhythms to sustain their impact. 👉 In this episode: Why those who feel “called” are statistically the most prone to burnout The unique fingerprint of burnout that purpose-driven leaders face Practical daily, weekly, and quarterly rhythms to de-stress and reset The role of micro-breaks, community, and job-crafting in sustaining your leadership How to pre-plan rest before you need it This isn’t a “work less” conversation — it’s a “work sustainably” conversation. If your leadership matters, your health matters more. 📘 Grab Arianna’s book Healthy Calling anywhere books are sold. 🌐 Connect with us at Stay Forth and learn how to lead healthy + high impact.

In this special episode, Alan Briggs steps away from the usual pace of life—and leadership—and invites us into a slower, deeper rhythm. Recorded on location from the island of Terceira in the Azores, Alan shares reflections from his very first pilgrimage—a spiritual journey with a physical component. What began as a walk through unfamiliar terrain turned into a profound time of rest, reflection, and reconnection with God. If you’ve ever felt burned out, spiritually dry, or simply curious about how to slow down long enough to hear from God… this one’s for you. In this episode, Alan explores: What really is a pilgrimage—and why it matters today The tension between being a tourist and a seeker Unexpected spiritual lessons from Holy Spirit houses and Catholic cathedrals Questions that shaped each day: How have I limited God? How am I different when I rest? How nature, walking, and reflection unlock new clarity and connection This isn’t your typical leadership episode—and that’s the point. Feeling the nudge to take your own pilgrimage? Whether that looks like a long walk or a short retreat, we hope this conversation helps you slow down, listen deeper, and reorient around what truly matters. Stay in the Loop Get resources, tools, and updates from the Stay Forth team: stayforth.com Let’s Connect Leave a review, share this episode, and tag us on social: #StayForthLeadership

Our phones promise connection but often choke out what matters most. Alan Briggs and Joey Odom dive into the “PID loop” of proximity, interaction, and dependence — and share practical ways to reclaim your time, creativity, and relationships from constant distraction. We all feel it. That little computer in our pocket is shaping our attention, our relationships, and even our leadership. But what if our phones aren’t just tools—they’re thorns? In this episode of the Stay Forth Leadership Podcast, Alan Briggs sits down with Joey Odom, co-founder of Reclaim Well and the ARO Box Book recommendation: The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt Alan’s book The Sabbatical Journey — your field guide for deep rest and reorientation Subscribe, rate, and review the Stay Forth Leadership Podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

Every leader faces seasons of busyness, drift, and distraction. When that happens, what helps you stay the course? Your purpose. In this episode, Alan and Jonathan unpack why purpose acts like a compass — keeping you oriented, steady, and moving in the right direction when everything else feels chaotic. Alan shares his discipline of taking quarterly Think Days to step back, reflect, and regain clarity. You’ll hear how these rhythms not only renew his own leadership but also fuel alignment and energy for his entire team. This conversation also dives into the Unique Design framework — the intersection of your wiring, gifting, and calling. When you discover and lead from your unique design, you stop running on fumes and start moving with focus, impact, and fulfillment. Whether you’re leading a business, an organization, or your family, this episode will help you rediscover your compass and navigate with confidence. What You’ll Learn: Why leaders lose clarity when they don’t create space to think How a Think Day can reset your focus and energy The 4 H’s Alan looks for in every coaching client How to spot your “fills and drains” and delegate wisely The critical difference between dumping and delegating Why aligning with your Unique Design increases resilience and impact Two key reflection questions to help you realign with your deeper purpose Resources Mentioned: Unique Design Framework — Want to discover your unique leadership design? 👉 Email: Stayforth.com Reflect + Respond: Take a moment to sit with these two questions: What’s the deeper purpose that’s driving your life and leadership? Where have you lost sight of that purpose along the way? Use them to journal, fuel a team discussion, or even guide your own Think Day. Remember: Your purpose is your compass. Stay true to it, and you’ll lead yourself — and others — with clarity, health, and lasting impact.

What separates leaders people trust from leaders they just tolerate? It’s not charisma. It’s not talent. It’s self-leadership — the ability to lead yourself with consistency, clarity, and accountability before you ever try to lead others. In this episode, Jonathan Collier and Alan “Stay Forth” Briggs unpack why self-leadership is the hidden competitive advantage in today’s world, how to model it for your team, and what practical habits build trust faster than any title or resume ever could. You’ll learn: Why consistency breeds credibility (and how to spot it on any team) The simple 3-foot rule that keeps your leadership grounded How to model behaviors your team will actually copy Why deadlines and follow-through create instant trust How to manage your energy, not just your calendar The tension between bringing your best and not being perfect Practical steps to raise your self-leadership game this week Reflection Questions: Where are you leaking time and energy? What’s one area in your leadership where you need more accountability? Resources Mentioned: Right Side Up Journal by Stay Forth — https://a.co/d/fUaXcFh Subscribe for more healthy + high-impact leadership conversations so you can multiply your influence without losing yourself in the process.

Summer’s winding down, kids are heading back to school, and your weekly rhythm is about to look very different. In this episode of our H2 Leaders summer series, Jonathan and Alan define what true resilience looks like for a leader—and why it has nothing to do with “toughing it out” and everything to do with maintaining what matters most in your life. You’ll learn Alan’s 3-C framework for navigating change (Change | Clarity | Communication), plus practical habits to build both proactive steadiness and responsive flexibility so you can lead with confidence through every season. What You’ll Learn What Is Resilience? Why it’s not grit or forced optimism, but the ability to maintain your values, boundaries, and priorities when your world shifts. The 3-C Framework: Change is inevitable—embrace that it’s coming. Clarity lets you decide your next move, even in uncertainty. Communication (louder and clearer!) keeps your team trusting you through every pivot. Proactive vs. Responsive Practices: – Proactive: Routines that build your “resilience muscle” (sleep, exercise, Sabbath rhythms). – Responsive: Short breaks and mental shifts when the unexpected pops up (a tech failure, a new tariff, a sudden deadline). Why Reevaluation Matters: How and why you must regularly revisit your goals, metrics and projections as conditions evolve. Quick Tips for Staying Grounded: – Five daily habits Jonathan and Alan swear by. – The “stimulus → pause → response” window you can train for. Key Takeaways Change never knocks—it busts in like the Kool-Aid Man. You can’t control every shift—but you can control how you prepare and respond. Communicate more (not less!) when things feel most uncertain. Clarity of next steps beats false hope: ask “Who can help me?” and “What 2–3 areas do I need to grow?” Stop chasing certainty—build your resilience through repeated small wins and honest conversations. Action Challenge Pause & Reflect: How do you typically respond when change hits? Pick One Practice: Schedule one proactive habit this week (e.g. a 10-minute walk, dedicated Sabbath hour, or quick mindfulness break). Reevaluate: Block off 15 minutes to update your top 3 priorities in light of any recent shifts. Resources Mentioned Right Side Up Journal — Alan’s go-to tool for weekly audits and clarity Anti-Burnout — a coaching-powered guide to sustainable leadership

In today’s episode, Alan shares how a rare open Saturday—spent hiking into the Colorado mountains to fly-fish—quickly turned into another to-do list. He realized that our most life-giving pursuits (hobbies) are constantly at risk of becoming tasks we “have to” check off. In this conversation, Alan unpacks why hobbies are essential to flourishing, offers a framework for rediscovering them, and gives practical steps to reclaim joy, creativity, and rest in the midst of our busy “have-to” lives. What You’ll Learn: Why Hobbies Matter: How leisure activities serve as mental rest, spark creativity, and renew passion for work and family. Focal Practices: The power of “idle,” present-moment activities that reconnect you to what truly matters. Benefits of Hobbies: From distraction of weighty issues to replenishment cycles that boost productivity. Rediscovery vs. Discovery: Tips for uncovering the hobbies you loved as a kid—or stumbling on new ones today. Practical Steps: How to schedule your first hobby session in two weeks—no guilt, no strings attached. Key Takeaways: Hobbies are “get-to” activities in a “have-to” world. Even large organizations credit “white-space” time for breakthroughs. Simple focal practices (gardening, evening walks, hammocking) anchor joy and presence. Your work, relationships, and well-being depend on carving out hobby time. Action Challenge: Block off a 2-hour window in your calendar this week for your rediscovered hobby—whether it’s fly-fishing, woodworking, dancing, or simply sitting in a hammock—and notice how you feel afterward. Resources Mentioned: Anti-Burnout: A Coaching Pathway The Sabbatical Journey Field Guide Have questions or want to share your hobby rediscovery story? Drop us a note at hello@stayforth.com or leave a comment wherever you listen.

Halfway through summer and already feeling the rush of back-to-school and end-of-year deadlines? In this episode of the H₂ Leader Summer Series, Alan Briggs and Jonathan Collier challenge the “grind-only” mentality by uncovering the power of relational leadership over mere transactions. You’ll learn: The difference between transactional (BNI-style) and relational (Coharbor-style) approaches How a high-trust culture drives better engagement, retention, and results The 3 Cs every leader needs—Curiosity, Care, and Consistency—and how to practice them Real-world signs your organization is drifting into “just manage” mode Reflection questions to help you shift from “What can they do for me?” to “How can I serve them?” Whether you lead a small team or a global enterprise, you’ll come away equipped to strengthen trust, spark engagement, and multiply your impact—one authentic connection at a time. Show Notes Welcome & Summer Check-in Mid-summer realities: schools shopping in July, transactional everywhere Why relational leadership matters now Two Networking Models Transactional: “Get leads, hit quotas” (BNI-style) Relational: “Get to know the person first” (Coharbor-style) Why Trust Trumps Transactions As goes the leader, so goes the culture Real-life boardroom example: cold, closed vs. warm, open Signals of Low-Trust vs. High-Trust Cultures Do people feel safe to speak up? Are values just on the wall, or lived daily? Celebration vs. checkbox mentality The 3 Cs of Relational Leadership Curiosity: Ask what’s really on people’s minds Care: Show genuine concern for the human, not just the role Consistency: Do your values and words match your actions—every day Practical Steps to Shift Check your own inbox: person or task? Communicate context + clarity + candor Use “three strikes” principle: when a tool or process fails repeatedly, pick up the phone Reflection Questions How relational is my current leadership? Where am I defaulting to transactions over relationships? Who needs more of my presence (not just my direction)? Resources & Links Anti-Burnout ⇒ https://a.co/d/89z1Vrr The Sabbatical Journey ⇒ https://a.co/d/i5dXSLS How to Subscribe & Review If you enjoyed this episode, please: Subscribe to “Stay Forth Leadership” on Apple Podcasts Rate & Review—your five stars help others find the show! Share with a friend or colleague who’s ready to lead from relationship, not just transaction  

We’re living through a hurricane of distraction—constant pings, endless opportunities, and FOMO-fueled comparison. In Episode 5 of our H2 Leader Summer Series, Alan and Jonathan unpack why today’s leaders feel overwhelmed yet under-productive, and share a simple but counter-intuitive answer: do fewer things—better. Press play to learn how to develop “healthy tunnel vision” in a scattered world, why prioritization and elimination go hand-in-hand, and how to stay accessible (not available) so you can protect your best work. If you find yourself grasping at tasks like kids in a wind-tunnel booth grabbing dollar bills, this episode will give you a clearer, calmer path forward. Key Takeaways Scattered vs. Strategic: Today’s world bombards us like a wind-tunnel booth of swirling dollar bills. You must choose a few priorities—and let the rest go. Effectiveness > Efficiency: Machines optimize for efficiency; leaders optimize for impact by focusing on the right 2–3 actions. Prioritize & Eliminate: To truly excel, ruthlessly say “no” to good things so you can say “yes” to the best things. Accessible ≠ Available: You can remain reachable without being on-call 24/7—protect deep-work blocks as sacred. Model the Change: A leader’s bandwidth sets the bar for their team. Guard your own focus to help everyone guard theirs. Reflect & Apply Set aside 10–15 minutes today with your journal or notes app. Answer honestly: How scattered am I right now? Where is your attention leaking? What’s distracting me from what matters most? Identify the “dollar bills” you’re chasing. What’s one commitment I must say “no” to this fall so I can laser-focus on my top priorities? Links & Resources 📘 The Sabbatical Journey Field Guide → https://a.co/d/haM9rSR 📓 Right Side Up Journal (Weekly & Quarterly Audit) → https://a.co/d/fUaXcFh

We’re halfway through summer—and if you’re like most leaders, you’re both craving a break and wrestling with guilt, unfinished to-dos, and screen addiction. In Episode 6 of our H2 Leader Summer Series, Alan and Jonathan go deep on rest as a strategic, creative, and spiritual practice—not just “doing nothing.” Learn why resting well actually multiplies your impact, how to design your unique rest rhythm, and why trust (in God, yourself, your team) is the secret ingredient. You’ll discover: Why rest requires trust—and how to build it in real time The 7 types of rest (creative, sensory, spiritual, and more) that recharge you Real stories from their June adventures (Grand Canyon epiphanies, half-day schedules, family trips) How to move from negative-one burnout mode to a place of abundance The power of “accessible vs. available” boundaries for sustainable rest Press play, clear your mental clutter, and unlock the productive power of true rest. Key Topics Covered Rest ≠ Inaction: Rest as a powerful, generative action—an investment, not waste Trust & Rest: Why letting go (half-day schedules, family getaways) is the first step 7 Types of Rest: Creative, sensory, spiritual, and more (from Sacred Rest by Sandra Dalton-Smith) Negative-One vs. Abundance: How to tell if you’re operating from a deficit—and how to climb back to zero Accessible vs. Available: Setting rest boundaries while remaining dependable Reflect & Apply Grab a journal or open your notes app. Spend 10–15 minutes exploring: When was the last time I felt truly rested? (Six months ago? A year? More?) Which form of rest does my mind/body/spirit need most right now? (Creative, sensory, physical, spiritual, social, etc.) What’s my next single step to develop a healthy, repeatable rhythm of rest? Links & Resources The Sabbatical Journey Field Guide → https://a.co/d/haM9rSR Right Side Up Journal (Weekly & Quarterly Audit) → https://a.co/d/fUaXcFh Sacred Rest by Dr. Sandra Dalton-Smith (on the 7 Types of Rest) → [Search “Sacred Rest Dalton-Smith” on your favorite bookstore]