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John Graci
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Champion of the Underdog: Simplifying the Complex for Leaders
From Go-Getter to Leader: The Art of Delegation | Episode 19
In this episode of Champion of the Underdog, John Graci tackles a common leadership trap: the high-performing “go-getter” who gets promoted, but struggles to let go. Many leaders rise because they’re excellent at doing the work. The problem? Once promoted, their job shifts from doing the work to getting it done through others. When they keep stepping in, solving every problem, and taking over tasks, they burn out and unintentionally weaken their team. John explains how over-involvement squashes initiative, limits development, and reveals a key difference between a true leader and a go-getter. A go-get...
2026-02-18
05 min
Champion of the Underdog: Simplifying the Complex for Leaders
I Wish I Knew Many Years Ago What I Know Today | Episode 18
In this episode of Champion of the Underdog, John Graci shares a leadership lesson he wishes he’d learned earlier in his career: how to effectively voice your ideas to leaders with far more experience, especially in family businesses or long-tenured organizations. John explains that before you earn the right to challenge ideas or influence decisions, you must first build credibility by being excellent at your job. Experience matters, and seasoned leaders often still see younger professionals through the lens of who they once were, not who they are today. He emphasizes the importance of st...
2026-02-11
04 min
Champion of the Underdog: Simplifying the Complex for Leaders
Addressing Incompetence in Leadership | Episode 17
In this episode of Champion of the Underdog, John Graci takes on a leadership issue that quietly destroys trust and morale: tolerated incompetence. When leaders know a manager isn’t doing their job, and do nothing about it, the damage spreads far beyond one person. John explains the concept of sanctioned incompetence: when poor leadership behavior is allowed to continue because no one is willing to confront it. The result is cynicism, disengagement, and a culture where mediocrity feels acceptable. As John puts it, we get what we allow. He also addresses the complexity of au...
2026-02-05
05 min
Champion of the Underdog: Simplifying the Complex for Leaders
Responsibility Without Authority Is a Setup for Failure | Episode 16
In this episode of Champion of the Underdog, John Graci tackles a leadership issue that quietly destroys productivity: unclear authority. When leaders don’t know where their decision-making power starts and stops, teams stall, second-guessing increases, and frustration grows. John explains that responsibility without authority is a setup for failure. Leaders shouldn’t be left wondering if their boss will second-guess every decision, nor should they have to guess when to act independently versus when to ask for approval. Clear boundaries; what’s in bounds, out of bounds, and when to communicate are essential for effective leadership. ...
2026-01-28
04 min
Champion of the Underdog: Simplifying the Complex for Leaders
One Toxic Employee Can Destroy Your Team | Episode 15
In this episode of Champion of the Underdog, John Graci addresses a hard leadership reality: toxic employees don’t just affect morale, they attract more toxic behavior. And when leaders tolerate it, they unintentionally help it spread. John explains that culture isn’t defined by mission statements or values posted on the wall; it’s defined by what leaders allow. When one toxic employee is ignored, good employees notice. Trust erodes, accountability disappears, and disengagement grows. Nothing damages a team faster than watching a leader tolerate someone who clearly doesn’t care. He challenges leaders to look...
2026-01-22
04 min
Champion of the Underdog: Simplifying the Complex for Leaders
Why Guilt Keeps You from Delegating | Episode 014
In Episode 14 of Champion of the Underdog, leadership expert John Graci tackles one of the most common and misunderstood barriers to delegation: guilt. Many leaders hesitate to delegate because they don’t want to “dump work” on their team. John challenges that thinking head-on, explaining that this guilt often comes from past experiences, being the go-to employee who was overused, under-supported, and eventually burned out. That experience may have shaped a promise leaders make to themselves: “When I’m in charge, I won’t do that to my people.” But here’s the truth: avoiding delegation doesn...
2026-01-14
03 min
Champion of the Underdog: Simplifying the Complex for Leaders
Stop Telling, Start Asking | Episode 013
In Episode 13 of Champion of the Underdog, leadership expert John Graci breaks down one of the fastest and most overlooked ways to build trust as a leader: stop telling and start asking. Especially for new leaders stepping into established teams, John explains why trust is earned through curiosity, humility, and genuine listening, not speeches or authority. John challenges leaders to abandon the “new sheriff in town” mindset and instead approach leadership as a responsibility owed to their team. The only real difference between a leader and their team members is a job title, and effective leaders never forg...
2026-01-07
05 min
Champion of the Underdog: Simplifying the Complex for Leaders
Why Employees Trust Strangers More Than Their Leaders | Episode 012
In Episode 12 of Champion of the Underdog, leadership expert John Graci addresses a startling reality uncovered by Harvard Business Review: 58% of employees trust strangers more than their own leaders. John breaks down why this trust gap exists, and what leaders, HR professionals, and senior executives must do to close it. John explains that this isn’t a soft-skills issue; it’s a business issue. When trust erodes, engagement drops, turnover rises, morale suffers, and organizations pay the price in lost productivity and wasted training costs. At the root of the problem is a lack of genuine connection betw...
2025-12-31
07 min
Nudge
The top 9 tips from 55 Nudge episodes in 2025
In today’s special end-of-year episode, you’ll hear the best insights from Nudge in 2025. Hear from Prof. Gerd Gigerenzer, Richard Shotton, Bas Wouters, Philip Graves, Prof. Matt Johnson and a Behavioural Insights Team director. ---- Subscribe to the Nudge Vaults: https://www.nudgepodcast.com/vaults Sign up for my newsletter: https://www.nudgepodcast.com/mailing-list Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phill-agnew/ Watch Nudge on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nudgepodcast/ ---- Today’s Sources: Beilock, S. L., Bertenthal...
2025-12-29
28 min
Champion of the Underdog: Simplifying the Complex for Leaders
The Willingness to be Unpopular | Episode 011
In Episode 11 of Champion of the Underdog, leadership expert John Graci tackles a truth many leaders avoid: effective leadership often requires being unpopular. If you’re trying to be liked, you’re not leading - you’re managing perceptions. John challenges leaders with a simple but uncomfortable question: Are you prepared to be unpopular to do what’s right? For real leaders, the answer must be yes. Using examples from politics, business, sports, and his own leadership experience, John explains why criticism is not a sign of failure; it’s often a byproduct of courage...
2025-12-24
05 min
Champion of the Underdog: Simplifying the Complex for Leaders
I Don’t Have the Time | Episode 010
In Episode 10, John Graci dismantles one of the most common and costly phrases leaders use: “I don’t have the time.” Whether you’re a supervisor, HR professional, or anyone influencing people, this episode reveals a truth many leaders avoid: “I don’t have time” is almost never about time; it’s about choice. John opens by challenging leaders to reflect: Are you being impacted by your work environment, or are you impacting it? Every decision a leader makes, big or small, ripples across the team. Leadership is influence, and influence comes from the choices you...
2025-12-17
05 min
Champion of the Underdog: Simplifying the Complex for Leaders
Weaponized Incompetence | Episode 009
In Episode 9, John Graci tackles a leadership challenge that is far more common than most leaders admit: weaponized incompetence. When employees intentionally underperform, delay, or “play dumb,” the leader steps in and does the work for them. John opens the episode with a relatable home-life example: folding laundry poorly so your spouse takes over, or mowing the lawn with less care so someone else finishes the job. The same behavior shows up in the workplace, but with far greater consequences. In this episode, John breaks down the real reason weaponized incompetence thrives. Key less...
2025-12-16
03 min
Champion of the Underdog: Simplifying the Complex for Leaders
The Most Dangerous Leader | Episode 008
In Episode 8 of Champion of the Underdog, leadership expert John Graci breaks down one of the most dangerous obstacles inside any organization: leaders who cannot see themselves clearly. With 30 years of coaching and real-world leadership experience, John explains why self-delusion at the leadership level can sabotage performance, waste training investments, and undermine the very teams organizations depend on. John shares a revealing coaching story about a leader with 10 years of experience, yet every answer he gave exposed major leadership blind spots. He dismissed employee concerns, avoided accountability, labeled people as “bad attitudes,” delegated around difficult conversations, and even...
2025-12-04
07 min
Champion of the Underdog: Simplifying the Complex for Leaders
When a Team Member Complains About a Coworker | Episode 007
In this episode of Champion of the Underdog, leadership trainer and author John Graci digs into one of the most uncomfortable, but critical, parts of leading a team: what to do when employees complain about each other’s performance. Using memorable analogies, from cattle drives to buffalo running head-on into storms, John explains why effective leaders must lead from the front, not push from behind. John reminds leaders that when a team member complains about a coworker, they’re often doing your job for you. But their opinion alone isn’t enough. You must verify, observe, and step i...
2025-11-27
05 min
Champion of the Underdog: Simplifying the Complex for Leaders
You Have to Like People | Episode 006
In this episode of Champion of the Underdog, leadership expert John Graci tackles a tough but honest question every leader must confront: Do you actually like people, and the problems that come with them? Drawing from 30 years of frontline leadership experience, John challenges managers to rethink how they view their teams, their responsibilities, and the true nature of leadership. John shares a powerful story about a frustrated leader on a short flight who spent the entire trip complaining about her team, only to admit she wished she’d never been promoted. Through this real-world example, he reveals a common...
2025-11-20
04 min
Champion of the Underdog: Simplifying the Complex for Leaders
Leading People Older Than You | Episode 005
In this episode of Champion of the Underdog, leadership expert John Graci tackles one of the most common challenges for emerging leaders: how to confidently lead people who’ve been on the job longer than you’ve been alive. Whether you’re a new manager in your 20s or 30s or stepping into leadership for the first time, this episode offers real-world advice for earning trust, building respect, and leading with authenticity. John shares the biggest mistakes younger leaders make, like trying to prove they know everything, rushing to change things, or ignoring veteran employees’ wisdom, and shows wh...
2025-11-15
06 min
Champion of the Underdog: Simplifying the Complex for Leaders
How to Handle Insubordination | Episode 004
In this episode of Champion of the Underdog, leadership expert John Graci tackles one of the toughest moments any leader faces: when a team member flat-out refuses to follow directions. Drawing from his 30 years of experience as a trainer, speaker, and author, John walks leaders through how to handle insubordination calmly, clearly, and effectively. He explains that insubordination isn’t the root problem; it’s a symptom of deeper issues such as personal stress, feeling undervalued, or believing a task is beneath them. Using his trademark mix of humor and no-nonsense advice, John lays out practical steps leaders can take to addre...
2025-11-06
07 min
Scandalous Games
Pat Pulling and Bothered About Dungeons & Dragons, Part 3: Klaatu, barada, nightly news
Historian Kevin Impellizeri shares a story of a video game controversy to his friends: Kate Lynch, Phil Thomas, and Matt Shoemaker, whose new book, Gathering of Gamers: Dungeons & Dragons and Other Games Through Gen Con, is available now through Play Story Press (https://playstorypress.org/books/gathering-of-gamers/). We continue our deep dive into anti-Dungeons & Dragons moral activist Patricia Pulling, founder of Bothered About Dungeons & Dragons (BADD), how she became an alleged expert on the occult, and the types of groups who were receptive to her declarations of the alleged hazardous effects of tabletop roleplaying games. To...
2025-11-04
53 min
Champion of the Underdog: Simplifying the Complex for Leaders
Balancing Compassion with Performance | Episode 003
In this episode of Champion of the Underdog, leadership expert John Graci unpacks one of the most overlooked challenges in management: balancing compassion with performance. What got you promoted won’t necessarily help you lead, and John explains why the transition from “doing the work” to “leading others” requires an entirely new skill set. Through real-world insight and humor, John explores the clash between the expectations of your team and upper management, and how those expectations, while similar on paper, can mean completely different things. Employees want trust, recognition, and respect. Management wants proficiency, productivity, and profitability. Effective leaders must learn to delive...
2025-10-31
09 min
Champion of the Underdog: Simplifying the Complex for Leaders
The Real Reason Teams Miscommunicate (And How to Fix It) | Episode 002
In this episode of Champion of the Underdog, leadership expert John Graci breaks down one of the most significant and costly issues in the workplace: miscommunication. With over 30 years of experience as a keynote speaker, trainer, and author, John shares why misunderstandings are rarely the team’s faultand how true leaders take ownership of clarity. You’ll learn why every misunderstanding has one parent (the sender), and how simple communication fixes can prevent frustration, rework, and wasted payroll. John uses humor and relatable stories, from “drive-by assignments” to a hilarious Thanksgiving kitchen mix-up, to show how vague instructions...
2025-10-26
08 min
Champion of the Underdog: Simplifying the Complex for Leaders
Employees Who Won’t Stop Complaining | Episode 001
In this episode, John Graci tackles one of the most common leadership challenges: employees who won’t stop complaining. With over 30 years of experience as a keynote speaker, trainer, and author, John cuts through the fluff to deliver practical, real-world leadership advice. He explains why complaints aren’t always a bad thing; often, they’re a sign that employees still trust you to make a difference. The real danger is when they stop talking altogether. Using insights from leaders like General Colin Powell and personal stories from seminars and the workplace, John highlights how dismissing or mocking complaints can lead to costl...
2025-10-17
09 min
Nudge
This single text made girls 45% more likely to get vaccinated
Can one text message save 100s of girls from cervical cancer? Today on Nudge, Niall Daly and Dr Giulia Tagliaferri discuss their county-wide study involving 55,000 girls. Their experiment had some eye-opening results, so I decided to copy it. I ran my own study on my listeners to see if I could increase my sales. Did it work? Listen to find out. My study emails: https://ibb.co/HTdMDHxT My study results: https://ibb.co/PGRp2d1y Niall and Guilia’s paper: https://shorturl.at/3nlyH Behavioural Insights Team...
2025-07-07
22 min
Sticky Lawyers
Bench Strength: From Judge to Judicial Misconduct Investigator and Prosecutor
Send us a textRobert Graci has devoted most of his legal career to public service, first with the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office, where he argued cases in all of Pennsylvania’s appellate courts and before the U.S. Supreme Court. Governor Mark Schweiker later appointed Bob to serve as an appellate judge on the Pennsylvania Superior Court But then a new opportunity arose. Parlaying both his prosecutorial experience and his time on the bench, Bob served as Chief Counsel to the Judicial Conduct Board of Pennsylvania, investigating and pursuing allegations of judicial ethics viola...
2025-06-26
45 min
Indieheads Podcast
279: Oh And It’s the Same Fucking Song Again (ft. Jenna)
You could have heard this episode 48 hours early by supporting us on Patreon for as low as $1/month, where you’ll also gain access to our Discord server & get yourself an Indieheads Podcast sticker: https://www.patreon.com/IndieheadsPodcast On this episode, Matty, Violet, Max and Jenna look at the same fucking song(s) again for the 2nd week in a row. Follow Jenna on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/jennalafleur.bsky.social Listen to Matty’s appearance on 10/10 You’re Great: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-joyces-manor-two-joyce-manors-with-matty/id1735424836?i=1000692557651 Songs di...
2025-02-25
00 min
Indieheads Podcast
Best New Pod: 2014 Part 3 – “Got The Pod Going Up On A Tuesday” (ft. Alexis from Hot Singles & Marcy Anime)
You could have heard this episode 48 hours early by supporting us on Patreon for as low as $1/month, where you’ll also gain access to our Discord server & get yourself an Indieheads Podcast sticker: https://www.patreon.com/IndieheadsPodcast On this episode, Jackie, Rose and Matty are joined by special guests Alexis (from Hot Singles) & Marcy Anime as we finish out our (curated) look into the Pitchfork Best New Track selections of 2014. Check out Alexis’ works: https://regresssion.carrd.co/ Follow Marcy on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Marcy_Anime Songs discussed: ...
2024-11-10
00 min
The Inner Landscape Travel Agency
Ep. 2 - IJ Makan's Conversational Portrait
IJ shares about.. - Embodying his beliefs, even when labeled a heretic by former communities- Identity and acceptance as part of the Tangkhul tribe in India: across faith and culture- Mourning a stillborn son and finding the sacred in martial arts and fatherhood- Learning to see beauty through painting- Whether clarity of thought can save relationshipsShow Notes16:21 - Josef Pieper’s Leisure: The Basis of Culture https://www.amazon.com/Leisure-Basis-Culture-Josef-Pieper/dp/158617256518:15 Abbaye de Saint-Benoît-du-Lac htt...
2024-09-13
3h 17
Overdrive Radio
Trucker-songwriter Guy Archer's journeys with heavy loads, right back to Nashville
From a songwriting session in early 2019 with Nashville-based John Allan Miller, Airgas company driver Guy Archer, based in Dayton, Ohio, determined to get back to Music City to continue work in songwriting later that same year. Yet a back injury derailed that plan, then COVID happened in 2020, and getting back into his truck after unloading one night Archer happened to hear an advertisement early in 2021 for the Overdrive-Red Eye Radio Trucker Talent Search. As many regular listeners will know, Archer went on to win the competition, and early in November, he was back in Nashville at the Jay’s Place re...
2021-12-10
48 min
Flousen Talks - Zitate und Mindset Zeug
20 Ideen, um tatsächlich glücklicher zu leben
Gedanken für mehr happy in deinem Leben Hier alle Zitate und Quellen: The pleasantest things in the world are pleasant thoughts, and the great art of life is to have as many of them as possible. Michel de Montaigne Quelle: https://quotefancy.com/quote/1044083/Michel-de-Montaigne-The-pleasantest-things-in-the-world-are-pleasant-thoughts-and-the Das Leben ist kurz, wenn man nur die Zeit des Glücks Leben heißt. Jean de La Bruyère Quelle: https://gutezitate.com/zitat/105567 Alles ist von Natur zur Umwandlung, zur Veränderung und zum Untergang bestimmt, damit anderes an seine Stelle rücke...
2021-10-18
08 min
Big Stupid Podcast
Episode 96: The Wrestlemania Special
In this latest episode, our heroes sit down with Graci, a friend who is well-versed in the realm of WWE. With Wrestlemania 35 coming up this weekend, the boys talk wrasslin'. What is the first thing that pops into their heads when someone says "greatest moment in WWE history"? What is the story that got Graci into following wrestling? What got John so interested that he checked out of the show for a few minutes to check out Instagram? Tune in and find out! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
2019-04-05
1h 39
Worst Time with John
5/18/14 Ep. 19 w/ Chris Graci
2014-05-19
30 min