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Episode Summary In this episode of the Breakfast Leadership Show, I sit down with Tony Falco to explore the real story behind AI adoption in organizations—and it’s probably not what you think. We …

Episode Summary In t…

Episode Summary In this episode of the Breakfast Leadership Show, I sit down with Tony Falco to explore the real story behind AI adoption in organizations—and it’s probably not what you think. We dig into how companies are rushing into AI without fully understanding their own workflows, and why that approach can create more problems than it solves. Tony brings decades of experience in internet Technology to the conversation, giving a grounded perspective on where AI actually delivers value. We also get into the human side of technology—how curiosity, play, and experimentation are becomin…

Today's Deep Dive is from the Breakfast Leadership Newsbrief from June 2026 that highlights a critical execution gap currently paralyzing corporate leadership. Data suggests a massive decline in CEO…

Today's Deep Dive is…

Today's Deep Dive is from the Breakfast Leadership Newsbrief from June 2026 that highlights a critical execution gap currently paralyzing corporate leadership. Data suggests a massive decline in CEO confidence, as many organizations find themselves fundamentally unable to fulfill their own digital transformation agendas. While Artificial Intelligence adoption has become nearly universal, a significant lack of governance frameworks and strategic Clarity has led to diminishing returns and potential legal liabilities. Furthermore, the report identifies employee burnout as a major operati…

Vadim Voss, founder of Next Level DeFi, joins the Breakfast Leadership Show to share how everyday people can put their Money to work through decentralized Finance without trading, without chart-watchi…

Vadim Voss, founder …

Vadim Voss, founder of Next Level DeFi, joins the Breakfast Leadership Show to share how everyday people can put their money to work through decentralized finance without trading, without chart-watching, and without being a tech expert. His mission is to help one million people break free from a banking system that was never built to serve them. What You Will Learn Why a savings account earning 2 to 3 percent is quietly losing you money What liquidity mining is and why it puts you on the "house side" of Crypto trading How stablecoins like USDT allow you to earn 20 to 30 percent annually with…

Most organizations do not fail at strategy because the strategy is wrong. They fail because the organization never learns to behave as if the strategy is real. That is the central argument Dr. Kyle Ha…

Most organizations d…

Most organizations do not fail at strategy because the strategy is wrong. They fail because the organization never learns to behave as if the strategy is real. That is the central argument Dr. Kyle Harkema makes in his book Strategic Clarity. He is the creator of the Strategic Orientation Index (SOI™), a diagnostic tool that functions like an organizational MRI, revealing the hidden misalignment between what an organization says it will do and how it actually behaves day to day. In this conversation with Michael D. Levitt of Breakfast Leadership Network, Dr. Harkema explains why strategic dr…

What happens when a chemist accidentally becomes an entrepreneur — and then has to figure out who he is after he sells the company he built? Scott Bening, author of "Formulating Solutions" and the n…

What happens when a …

What happens when a chemist accidentally becomes an entrepreneur — and then has to figure out who he is after he sells the company he built? Scott Bening, author of "Formulating Solutions" and the newly released "The Back Nine," joins the podcast to share a career story that is equal parts unexpected and instructive. Scott grew up in Buffalo, New York, earned his degrees from St. Lawrence University and UIC Chicago, and spent just nine months in a laboratory before pivoting into technical sales. That pivot — combining deep scientific knowledge with a learned ability to sell — became the …

Current economic Growth is being driven by a highly concentrated group of AI-focused companies, yet a significant governance gap threatens the sustainability of this expansion. Organizations are de…

Current economic gro…

Current economic growth is being driven by a highly concentrated group of AI-focused companies, yet a significant governance gap threatens the sustainability of this expansion. Organizations are deploying autonomous AI agents at a pace that far exceeds their internal oversight and decision-making frameworks, leading to a high projected failure rate for these initiatives. This friction is most visible in middle management, where leaders are currently overwhelmed by extreme workloads and excessive responsibilities. To address these vulnerabilities, firms must stop treating technical and…

Episode Summary In this episode, I sit down with Yasemin to pull back the curtain on what it’s really like to work in the restaurant industry. From the fast-paced chaos of a dinner rush to the emoti…

Episode Summary In t…

Episode Summary In this episode, I sit down with Yasemin to pull back the curtain on what it’s really like to work in the restaurant industry. From the fast-paced chaos of a dinner rush to the emotional labor that comes with serving guests day in and day out, we talk honestly about the realities servers face—and why respect and kindness from customers truly matter. Yasemin shares her personal experiences on the floor, including the small things that make a big difference (yes, including the right shoes!). We also explore how positive energy, community support, and simple human connection c…

Episode Summary In this episode, I sit down with Celia to explore something we don’t often stop to think about: how much of our identity is actually shaped by choice. From design in our everyday liv…

Episode Summary In t…

Episode Summary In this episode, I sit down with Celia to explore something we don’t often stop to think about: how much of our identity is actually shaped by choice. From design in our everyday lives to the deeper layers of heritage and archaeology, we unpack how identity isn’t fixed — it’s constructed through our environment, our experiences, and the decisions we make along the way. Celia shares her personal journey through major life transitions, including parenthood and relocation, and how archaeology and heritage can meaningfully support well-being during times of change. We also …

Episode Summary In this episode, I sit down with Wain Yu to unpack a powerful and deeply personal conversation around leadership and neurodiversity. We explore how understanding neurodivergent traits�…

Episode Summary In t…

Episode Summary In this episode, I sit down with Wain Yu to unpack a powerful and deeply personal conversation around leadership and neurodiversity. We explore how understanding neurodivergent traits—both in ourselves and others—can completely transform the way we lead, manage, and connect. Wain shares his journey as a technology leader, researcher, and father, and how those experiences shaped his perspective on unlocking human potential. We also dive into practical leadership insights: how to move beyond “fixing weaknesses,” why environments matter more than we think, and how traits l…

In this episode of the Breakfast Leadership Show, Michael D. Levitt speaks with Jonathan Sherrill about the connection between mindset, leadership effectiveness, Stress management, and burnout prevent…

In this episode of t…

In this episode of the Breakfast Leadership Show, Michael D. Levitt speaks with Jonathan Sherrill about the connection between mindset, leadership effectiveness, stress management, and burnout prevention. Jonathan shares insights on how fear, unresolved stress, and limiting beliefs quietly influence decision-making, workplace culture, and personal performance. The discussion explores practical ways leaders can improve resilience, self-awareness, and emotional regulation while navigating uncertainty and pressure. Key topics include: How mindset affects leadership performance The hidden impact …

Episode Overview Michael Levitt sits down with executive advisor Chris March to discuss one of the most common yet underaddressed challenges facing founder-led businesses: the founder themselves becom…

Episode Overview Mic…

Episode Overview Michael Levitt sits down with executive advisor Chris March to discuss one of the most common yet underaddressed challenges facing founder-led businesses: the founder themselves becoming the primary obstacle to growth. Chris works with organizations generating between $5 million and $20 million in revenue, helping founders identify structural dysfunction, reclaim their time, and build organizations that can operate independently. Key Topics Covered Founder Gravity Chris introduces the concept of "founder gravity," the organizational pull that keeps all decisions, approvals, a…

Episode Overview In this episode, Michael sits down with Brian Fielkow to discuss his new book, Making Safety Happen, and why safety leadership belongs in the boardroom rather than the basement. Brian…

Episode Overview In …

Episode Overview In this episode, Michael sits down with Brian Fielkow to discuss his new book, Making Safety Happen, and why safety leadership belongs in the boardroom rather than the basement. Brian brings a compelling perspective shaped by his transition from corporate law to executive leadership, and he makes a powerful case for why safety is not a compliance checkbox but a core business principle with measurable impact on profitability, culture, and competitive positioning. Key Takeaways Safety is a C-Suite Imperative. Brian argues that safety must be led from the top of the organization…