Lead Human with Jack Myers and Tim Spengler

Why the Future Belongs to the Curious | Lizz Ross on AI, Leadership & Kids

What happens to leadership, work, and parenting when AI can answer almost anything? In this episode of Lead Human, Jack Myers and Tim Spengler sit down with Liz Ross, CEO of Shift Paradigm, to talk about AI, leadership, discernment, curiosity, and what it means to stay relentlessly human in a world of accelerating automation. Lizz shares the story of knowing at age 11 that she wanted to work in advertising, and how that early spark led to a career spanning agencies, technology, data, and executive leadership. She talks about why the best leaders balance accountability with authenticity, why curiosity is a practical stand-in for empathy, and why having a real point of view is becoming more valuable—not less—in the AI era. They also get into her work helping parents think through how to raise kids with AI, why “the new genius is asking better questions,” why fake work is dying, and why discernment may become the most important human skill of all. If you’re trying to lead, learn, or parent through massive change, this conversation is for you. Lead Human is hosted by Jack Myers & Tim Spengler, produced by Wondir Studios (Desta Wondirad), in association with Acast. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

How to Build Trust in an AI World | Jeanniey Walden

What actually drives growth in an AI-saturated world: better tools, or deeper trust? In this episode of Lead Human, Jack Myers and Tim Spengler sit down with Jeanniey Walden to talk about trust, leadership, AI, momentum, and the human side of business transformation. Jeanniey shares her path from earning $5.25 an hour at JCPenney to becoming a CMO, startup advisor, and founder of LiftOff Enterprises. She explains why the foundations of business have not changed—even as the tools have—and why trust is still the thing that creates belief, loyalty, and real growth. She also breaks down her AIR Method—Authenticity, Inspiration, and Relatability—and explains how leaders can use it to navigate change, communicate more honestly, and keep teams aligned when momentum slows. They also explore how to learn AI by actually using it, why speed and alignment are often in tension, what marketers can learn from digital’s early days, and why work-life “blend” may be more realistic than balance in today’s world. If you’re trying to lead through change without losing the human core of your company, this conversation is for you. Lead Human is hosted by Jack Myers & Tim Spengler, produced by Wondir Studios (Desta Wondirad), in association with Acast. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

How Disney’s Ad Chief Leads 3,000 People Through Constant Change

What does it take to lead 3,000 people through constant change at one of the most powerful media companies in the world? In this episode of Lead Human, Jack Myers and Tim Spengler sit down with Rita Ferro, President of Global Advertising at Disney, for a conversation about leadership, trust, technology, and how to keep teams aligned when the ground is always shifting. Rita shares what she learned directly from Bob Iger, including why technology should be treated as an enabler—not the core—and why the best leaders stay focused on their own game instead of chasing competitors. She talks about balancing data, automation, and programmatic buying with storytelling, human relationships, and long-term brand building, and explains why outcomes matter—but art and science still have to work together. They also get into how to succeed under new bosses, how to lead through discomfort, why overcommunication matters, and how her experience in international markets taught her to stay calm even when everything feels “squishy.” It’s a sharp, grounded conversation about how to win in modern business without losing the human side of leadership. Lead Human is hosted by Jack Myers & Tim Spengler, produced by Wondir Studios (Desta Wondirad), in association with Acast. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Is Sports Still Human? Jack Myers & Tim Spengler on Money, Media & Fandom

In this special Lead Human episode, Jack Myers and Tim Spengler skip the guest interview and go deep on one topic: sports. From college NIL deals and the changing economics of the NCAA, to the rising power of live sports in a fragmented media world, to exploding ticket prices, gambling, streaming, and whether capitalism is reshaping fandom itself, this conversation asks a bigger question: are we losing the human side of sports just as its business value reaches an all-time high? Jack and Tim also get into the emotional power of sports, the role of announcers, the globalization of fandom, the NFL’s outsized grip on media, and why live sports may be one of the last places where people still gather in real time around a shared experience. They close with a rapid-fire round on favorite teams, rivalries, jerseys, announcer calls, and sports memories. If you care about sports, media, culture, and what still brings people together, this one is for you. Lead Human is hosted by Jack Myers & Tim Spengler, produced by Wondir Studios (Desta Wondirad), in association with Acast. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

I Am What I Play | Kristine Stone on Music, Authenticity & Human Connection

What can leaders learn from a great rock radio DJ? In this episode of Lead Human, Jack Myers and Tim Spengler sit down with Kristine Stone, SiriusXM DJ and one of the most recognizable voices in rock radio, for a conversation about music, communication, authenticity, and what human connection sounds like. Kristine opens up about the person behind the microphone, from being a single mom and raising twin boys to surviving difficult personal relationships and finding her own voice. She talks about why her on-air presence works because she’s simply being herself, why the best communication feels one-to-one instead of one-to-many, and why saying “you” instead of “everyone” changes how people feel when they listen. They also dive into the future of radio in an AI-driven world, why SiriusXM still believes in the human DJ, how rock bands mirror leadership dynamics, and what artists like Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen, Mick Jagger, and Pink Floyd can teach us about voice, control, conflict, and cultural influence. If you care about communication, leadership, music, or what still feels human in a world of automation, this one’s for you. Lead Human is hosted by Jack Myers & Tim Spengler, produced by Wondir Studios (Desta Wondirad), in association with Acast. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.