Listening to podcasts is a great way to support your own learning and development while on the go. Use your commute or chore time to focus your mind on some amazing resources, many of which are freely available, such as leadership podcasts from some of the top leadership experts and coaches in the industry.
If you're not sure where to dive in, check out our post on the top 20 leadership podcasts below. These shows will help coach you through times of change and discover new habits to make yourself an effective, more successful leader.
1. People Managing People
The People Managing People podcast is for HR professionals, business leaders, and anyone interested in making work better for everyone. Every episode, you will hear real life examples and stories from a range of guests including best-selling authors, founders, and workplace culture leaders. The focus is on providing practical insights into how you can improve as a leader and create healthier, happier, productive workplaces.
Available on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher
2. Dare to Lead
Centered on an ethos to lead as a change-catalyst, Brené Brown's Dare to Lead podcast provides insightful conversation from guests like organizational psychologist Adam Grant and thought leader Simon Sinek, best known for his TED Talk about WHY which stacked over 60 million views.
Brené is a master at explaining emotional and psychological needs in the workplace, and she shows leaders how important this is for creating successful teams. Her podcast challenges leaders to bring a new line of thought, passion, and a strong “Why?” to how they lead.
Available on: Spotify
3. A Bit of Optimism
New York Times' Bestselling writer and inspirational speaker Simon Sinek hosts the podcast A Bit of Optimism, where he chats with guests over love, life, leadership, and all the positive notes in between.
However, this uplifting podcast is more than fluff. You'll find inspiring stories to motivate you to not only be a better leader, but to approach issues and problems as a human first.
Available on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher
4. Take Command: A Dale Carnegie Podcast
Dale Carnegie's iconic book How to Win Friends and Influence People is a ubiquitous leadership read for any people manager or CEO, eventually branding into a course and subsequent podcast.
The Take Command show is a conversation-based podcast, offering wisdom from a diverse range of leaders in various industries, from a professional baseball player to a founder of a digital health start-up. Episodes cover everything from building a purpose-driven life to how to put people first.
Available on: Apple Podcasts
5. Wisdom from the Top hosted by Guy Raz
Leading a team and affecting real change while driving towards success takes more than you might think. Host Guy Raz, known for his other hit show How I Built This, launched Wisdom from the Top to share the real stories of leaders helming some of the biggest corporations out there.
Guests share their leadership wisdom and personal stories, from managing during a crisis to achieving big wins (or losses). Guy Raz expertly offers a probing narrative so listeners can hear big lessons from real world problems
Available on: Luminary
6. WorkLife with Adam Grant
Organizational psychologist and Wharton professor Adam Grant hosts the TED podcast WorkLife, where he investigates unusual professions and unpacks themes like unconscious bias or return-to-office.
The goal? Find inspiration, learn more, and make work not suck. Episodes highlights include an episode with Dolly Parton on creativity and an investigation in why we tend to procrastinate.
Available on: Spotify and Apple Podcasts
7. The Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast
Former lawyer turned pastor and founder of Connexus Church, Carey Nieuwhof's podcast gives us backstage access to thought leaders like fellow podcast host and TEDx speaker Adam Grant and Craig Groeschel, host of the Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast.
This podcast series is perfect for anyone in any leadership capacity to thrive and manage success by breaking down the nuances of team management, prioritizing your time and energy, or identifying trends that you could take home to your own organization.
Available on: Spotify, Apple Podcast, Youtube
8. Power + Presence + Position with Eleanor Beaton
In a world dominated by male leadership, the podcast Power + Presence + Position with Eleanor Beaton is here to support women in business wanting to make a positive impact to their stakeholders while being a profitable, effective leader.
Each week award winning journalist and leadership expert, Eleanor Beaton, and a guest explore leadership skills like mindful management, meaningful ruthlessness, or how to drive to scale.
Available on: Apple Podcasts
9. Coaching for Leaders with Dave Stachowiak
With over 25 million downloads, Coaching for Leaders with Dave Stachowiak is one of the top management podcasts on Apple and serves as a great resource for any leader's personal development.
Host Dr. Dave Stachowiak chats with bestselling authors, experts, and various leaders to cover timely, relevant, and thought-provoking content, from how to manage up to how to build psychological safety.
Available on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, TuneIn, Overcase
10. The Leadership Habit
Produced by the Crestcom Leadership Institute, The Leadership Habit show shows you how you can build a pathway towards success by embracing transformational leadership. Episodes topics cover building resilience, how to become an effective leader, and ethical decision making.
Known for its international leadership training, the Crestcom Leadership Institute uses the show as an additional medium to nurture and support ethical leaders in order to better the world around us.
Available on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts
11. Business Accelerator Podcast with Michael Hyatt and Megan Hyatt Miller
Formerly Lead to Win, the Business Accelerator Podcast hosted by father and daughter duo—New York Times best-selling writer Michael Hyatt and CEO Megan Hyatt Miller—promises to help business leaders and entrepreneurs sustain long-term success.
The entreleadership podcast partners with business leaders to unpack timeless wisdom towards success. Under its new name, it now includes interviews with thought leaders and recorded calls coaching real leaders to provide clarifying conversations and actionable insights for their audience.
Available on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher
12. Women's Leadership with Sabrina Braham
The Women's Leadership podcast offers monthly episodes filled with career development and executive coaching. Host Sabrina Braham interviews successful women leaders and CEOs to find provide timely and timeless insight for professional and personal development.
Available on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Pandora, iHeartRadio, TuneIn
13. At the Table with Patrick Lencioni
At the Table with Patrick Lencioni invites leaders to sit down for an approachable discussion on topics related to work and leadership, from workplace dysfunction to building culture.
With humor, wisdom, and insight, author and teamwork expert, Patrick Lencioni guides conversations to help listeners come away with actionable takeaways and understanding.
Available on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts
14. HBR Presents Coaching Real Leaders with Muriel Wilkins
Staple to business and entrepreneurial leaders everywhere, the Harvard Business Review curates different podcast series, like Coaching Real Leaders with Muriel Wilkins.
In this show, join real-life coaching sessions where long-time executive coach Muriel Wilkins helps executives, managers, and entrepreneurs tackle leadership changes and grow and develop their leadership qualities no matter what they face.
Available on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts
15. Masters of Scale
The Masters of Scale show helps listeners cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset with business advice from Silicon Valley and beyond. The show utilizes two episode formats: a classic format and a Rapid Response format.
In the classic format, Reid Hoffman, Linkedin Co-Founder and Sillicon Valley investor, encourages guests to open up about the very human journey of scaling and taking a business from start-up to a global brand. The Rapid Format, hosted by Bob Safian, tackles timely topics from crisis response and diversity and inclusion.
Available on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music
16. The Andy Stanley Leadership Podcast
Pastor, author, and found of North Point Ministries, Andy Stanley takes his experience as a spiritual guide and communicator to help others foster leadership skills.
Through the conversational format with long-time cohost Lane Jones, Andy Stanley looks at topics from finding your focus to how to lead with integrity.
Available on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts
17. The Jocko Podcast
Jocko Willink is a decorated retired Navy SEAL officer, author, co-founder, and host of The Jocko Podcast. Joined by producer, Echo Charles, this conversational podcast investigates discipline and leadership habits in business, war, and everyday life.
Available on: Apple Podcasts
18. LEADx Kevin Kruse
New York Times best-selling author and LEADx CEO Kevin Kruse hosts the LEADx podcast, where he interviews top leadership experts and business executives from Dan Pink to Ken Blanchard.
The show acts as on-demand leadership coaching to help anyone accelerate their career and manage personal and professional issues. Learn topics from minfulness to how to succeed in the digital economy.
Available on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Overcast, Anchor, Tunein, Castbox
19. Leadership Biz Cafe with Tanveer Naseer
What if you could sit down with a cup of coffee and some of the world's best leadership experts? Tanveer Naseer's podcast Leadership Biz Cafe serves just that with guests like Adam Bryant, author of the CEO test, and business writer and speaker, Tom Peters.
The Internationally-acclaimed TEDx speaker and leadership coach sits down with experts in an interview-style format where they cover leadership habits while exploring the nuances and challenges in our modern workplace.
Available on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Overcast, Anchor, Deezer, Pandora, Amazon Music, Audible,
20. Leadership and Loyalty
Recognized as a top leadership speaker and corporate cultural strategist, Dov Baron takes his expertise and strong interview skills to his popular podcast Leadership and Loyalty.
Best-selling author and founder of Full Monty Leadership, Dov Baron's show chats with leaders like psychologist Dr. Ellen Langer and entrepreneur Tom Bilyeu about the twists and turns of their careers.
Available on: Spotify
Ready to Press Play?
Leadership podcasts are an inspiring avenue to discover new voices, learn new leadership qualities, and find inspiration from real, effective leaders.
If you're looking for a great place to start for your own personal learning and development journey as a people manager, start with our People Managing People podcast episode The Secret Code To Exceptional Leadership (with Ian Mills from Transform Performance International)
Some further resources to help you along your leadership journey
- 14 Leadership Books For New Leaders To Read In
- 13 Best Leadership Certificates To Help You Become A Better Leader
- Top 20 Leadership Blogs To Help You Become A Better Leader
- 13 Best Communication Course To Help You Communicate Better