Behind the Scenes: One Year of Innovative Leadership
The Innovative Leadership podcast is celebrating its first anniversary! To commemorate this milestone, let’s look back at some of the show’s most memorable moments and gain some perspective from its hosts.
For those wondering, yes, I (Ryan) did write this article from both first—and third-person perspectives. It's just another day in the life of a content specialist! Now, let’s dive in.
The First Episode
This is the episode that started it all! It was initially going to be a test run for Ryan and Steph to use the equipment and find their rhythm, but it turned out so well that it became episode one! Listen back to hear more about the show's origins and how it draws its inspiration from EOS.
Ryan: I had done some podcasting and radio, but this was a different animal. It was a whole new setup in a business environment with subject matter that I was still relatively new to. Luckily, that first episode flowed pretty easily, and we kept it rolling from there!
Steph: I had always thought a podcast would be a cool addition to Innovative’s content efforts, but we just didn’t have the right people to make it happen. Ryan joining the team, paired with the start of our official EOS journey aligned the stars perfectly to make Innovative Leadership happen.
First Guests
Once the first episode was completed, it was time to book guests. These included Jason, Alex, and Tyler, as well as the first non-Innovative guests, Tara Bockstanz and Tara Sargent from Leadership Washington County. The interview structure of the show has remained the same from the beginning: have guests introduce themselves to the audience, then let the conversation naturally evolve from there. This approach has led to some interesting and unexpected topics that might’ve otherwise been missed had the show been more rigid.
Ryan: It can be nerve-wracking to sit down and interview someone, whether you know them or not. We were very fortunate that our first guests brought such fun and exciting topics to the table. They helped reinforce our belief that spontaneous conversations were the best conversations.
Steph: We were, understandably, a bit nervous going into the first few episodes. So, it was nice to stick with some familiar faces as our first guests. It didn’t take long to get comfortable with this whole podcasting thing. Looking back those first episodes were some of my favorites because we got to learn things about some of our colleagues we never would have known.
Different Perspectives
The podcast's goal was always to bring on a wide variety of leaders, from professionals just starting their careers to soon-to-be retirees and everything in between. This range is perfectly illustrated by interviews with Sam Cataldo and Andrew Blair, two professionals at different points in their careers, but both with unique and valuable perspectives.
Ryan: One of my favorite aspects of this show is the way it has facilitated honest and respectful conversations about generational differences between leaders. Our guests have been anything but condescending when discussing the leadership styles that came before them or after them. I look forward to digging deeper into this topic in the future.
Steph: It’s been really cool to see some of the common themes of good leadership come out through such varied conversations with so many different leaders in different stages of their careers and from different backgrounds.
On the Road
The show’s first on-location recording was quite the trip. Ryan and Steph ventured all the way to Whippany, New Jersey, and New York City to record episodes with Ori Segall and Jonathan B. Smith.
Ryan: It was a whirlwind traveling, doing two podcasts, then coming home in 30 hours, but I thought our first road trip was a huge success! Each of our guests brought something new to the table, and it was great to get out of our conference room and take the show on the road. I feel like the change of scenery made everything feel extra fresh and new.
Steph: This was one of the most unexpected turns the podcast has taken us on. We know that in-person recording creates the most genuine conversations. So, we thought we’d always be limited to more local guests, but we couldn’t turn down the opportunity to expand our reach and interview some guests from the NYC area. It was fun to get some new perspectives and scenery and leave our comfort zone.
Looking Ahead
While the podcast will continue to invite new guests and introduce new topics, its core will remain the same: leadership, people and business. Let’s hear what our hosts are looking forward to.
Ryan: I can’t wait to see what this podcast's future holds. One day, I hope to do some episodes that modify the format, like having two leaders on at the same time to debate or discuss their individual leadership styles. I’m also eager to see what new EOS conversations will come up as Innovative continues to implement and improve.
Steph: I’m really excited to see where this podcast takes us over the next year. I couldn’t have imagined how successful the first year would be and I’m so grateful to all our listeners who have been along on the journey. We have even more great guests coming up and hopefully some new twists and turns along the way.
Thank you for Listening
This podcast wouldn’t be possible without the listeners' support and guests' contributions. Our team looks forward to continuing the conversation, finding out what makes good leaders, and documenting Innovative’s continued EOS journey. Thank you!